2022

Scawthorpe Athletic 4
Dog Daisy United 3

aet Full-time: 3-3

It was a day and a final to match the occasion and it is almost certain that in its 125 years, the Mexborough Montagu Cup has never seen a final quite like this one.

Firstly, has one team ever scored three times in the first TEN minutes - as Dog Daisy United did here? Highly unlikely.

And as there had only ever been three 4-3 scorelines in a Mont final before this one, this is almost certain to be the first time a team has come from 3-0 down to win the coveted trophy - as Scawthorpe Athletic did on Easter Monday and for the first time.

The Dog Daisy captain Tom Needham netted a last gasp, extra-time winner the last time a team won 4-3 in the final, on that occasion Memories came from 3-1 down to pip Swinton Athletic in 2015. He must have thought he was on course for another winners medal after that devastating start.

It proved a tremendous game for a crowd that must have topped 1,700 with the day started perfectly when over a hundred former Mont finalists from right across many decades flocked into the Mexborough Athletic club to meet old pals and reminisce, making it a great start to the 125th anniversary.

But no one could have envisaged the start to the game we got as hot favourites Scawthorpe were stunned by Dog Daisy’s early blast.

A cracking header by Josh Moore from an Alex Wilkinson corner had the Mexborough side in front after four minutes and just two minutes later, Jake Ford ran through to make it 2-0.

Dog Daisy's opener. Photo: Julian Barker

Scawthorpe were wide open again in only the 10th minute for Ford to again finish clinically and the Doncaster side were clearly stunned. It would have been worse had Ford been able to finish off another run on goal.

Scawthorpe gradually settled down, began to assert themselves and tossed themselves the lifeline they needed before half-time when Lee Tilley pulled one back just past the half-hour.

Scawthorpe's Lee Tilley pulled one back before half-time. Photo: Julian Barker

Going up the slope in the second half, Scawthorpe made the running as they had to and on 57 minutes Adam Watson cut the deficit to 3-2 with a header from a Joe Byron centre.

Shaun Mundy should have levelled when clean through but the equaliser followed with 13 minutes left when skipper Gary Mundy headed home from a Will McGhie corner.

Dog Daisy had struggled to make clear opportunities this half but lively young sub Bayley Lowe went close with a shot on the turn.

In extra-time, both sides were clearly tiring but giving everything and then came the decisive matchwinning moment with 11 minutes remaining. A short corner was played low into the area and sub Sam Corner didn’t make the cleanest contact but it was enough to get them in front and complete the amazing comeback.

Dog Daisy's Alex Wilkinson in mid-air. Photo: Julian Barker

Remarkably, in its 125 years, the Final was decided on one occasion - in 1945 - by which side got the next corner. Here, nearly 80 years later, a Corner proved the winner again!

Report: Les Payne

Goals :DD: Josh Moore 4', Jake Ford 6', Jake Ford 11'SA: Lee Tilley 33', Adam Watson 58', Gaz Mundy 78', Sam Corner 109'

SCAWTHORPE ATHLETIC: Danny Porteus, Josh Gibbons, Steff Cairns, Alex Rennie, Gary Mundy, Jordan Buckham, Will McGhie, Joe Byron, Shaun Mundy, Adam Watson, Lee Tilley (Sam Corner ht). Subs: Tom Doherty, Hayden Tomlinson, Danny Jones, Danny Bell.

DOG DAISY UTD: Ben License, Ollie Yates (Bayley Lowe 70) , Owen Fieldsend, Richie Bywater, Alex Wilkinson, Jamie Deakin (Josh Critchley 70), Dan Barlow, Luke Gosling-Skelton, Josh Moore, Jake Ford, Tom Needham (Matt McCall 75)
Referee: Mick Cooke (Wath).

Elite photographer, Mike Bayly's photos are at : https://www.flickr.com/photos/16652664@N04/sets/72177720298235208/

Match winner: Sam Corner. Photo: Julian Barker

Man of the Match & captain, Gaz Mundy facing the trophy. Photo: Julian Barker

Semi- Final

Wombwell Main 1 Dog Daisy United 3

Dog Daisy reached the final of the Montagu Cup for the first time with a victory over 7-time winners Wombwell Main in front of almost 300 spectators at Tickhill Square.

A brace from Dog Daisy's Josh Moore gave the Mexborough Sunday League side a deserved half-time lead. Both of Moore's goals came directly from Rhys Plater's deliveries.

Two penalty appeals early in the second half were pivotal.

Daisy's Matthew McCall appeared to handle the ball whilst prone after blocking a chance from Ryan Wingrove - no penalty for the County Senior side.

At the other end, Dog Daisy's Jake Ford netted the penalty awarded after Owen Fieldsend was adjudged to have been fouled in an aerial challenge.

Main came to life in the last 20 minutes with Owen Sykes' shots and corners testing Doggy's Declan Ogley. Jordan Kershaw clipped the post with a shot on the swivel.

On 76 minutes, Wombwell's Wingrove's controlled a long ball and finished with a low shot.

The final is scheduled to be played at Hampden Road, Mexborough on the traditional date of Easter Monday 18th April 2022.

Scawthorpe Athletic. Credit @dribblingcode

Swinton WMC. Credit @dribblingcode

Semi- Final

Scawthorpe Athletic 3 Swinton WMC 0

Scawthorpe have reached the final in their maiden Montagu Cup in a competitive match at Denaby Main's Tickhill Square.

Will McGhie's two first-time strikes from distance were all that separated the teams until Ben Clark sealed the victory with the last kick of the match.

The opening goal came on 12 minutes when Sam Corner laid the ball back for McGhie to rifle a rising shot past Hinchcliffe.

On the half-hour Swinton missed their best chance when the ball fell to Brett Lovell after tricky play on the wing from Zak Khalifa. WMC again came close just before half-time when a Brady Roberts free-kick went narrowly wide with the keeper static.

As Swinton tried to get back in the match it was Scawthorpe's Ben Clark who caused problems with two penalty appeals, as well as a squandered chance after an aerial mix up in the Swinton defence. Clark set up McGhie for his second goal - a dipping shot just under the bar on 64 minutes.

WMC's Sulieman's close range effort was saved by Porteous before Clark poked home after fine work from the impressive Adam Watson.

The second semi-final between Dog Daisy and Wombwell Main is next Tuesday (7th September) at Tickhill Square 6pm.

The final is scheduled to be played at Hampden Road, Mexborough on the traditional date of Easter Monday 18th April 2022.