DALE CLUB FC WON THE PRESIDENT’S TROPHY OF THE "WAKEFIELD & DISTRICT SUNDAY FOOTBALL LEAGUE” FOLLOWING THEIR HARD FOUGHT 2-1 SUCCESS OVER ANGEL INN WITH SUBSTITUTE JACK WOODS FIRING THE WINNING GOAL.

Wakefield & District Sunday Football League - Sunday 23rd April 2023.

Angel Inn FC .......................................... 1
Dale Club FC .......................................... 2

Hero of the hour saw substitute Jack Woods score the winning goal for Dale Club FC seven minutes from time with only his second touch to help his side lift the President's Trophy in a tight 2-1 success over Angel Inn FC in the final played at Crofton Community Centre (Home of Nostell MW).

The President's Trophy is competed by the lower two tiers and reserve teams in the Wakefield & District Sunday Football League - the above finalist both play in Championship One.

In front of a large crowd, it was Dale Club who posted an early warning in the 6th minute which saw attacking fullback James Chiodo send in a teasing cross and saw striker Cole Barrett's powerful goal bound header tipped over the bar by Angel Inn goalkeeper Callum Swift who again came to his sides rescue to deny Charle Auty from the resultant corner.

The deadlock was broken two minutes later when a crossfield pass from James Chiodo saw the marauding Callum Geldart ghost in on the blind side of a defender to steer his header into the far post to give Dale Club an early 1-0 lead.

Matthew Lloyd and Morgan East rallied the Angel Inn with industrious work ethic in the middle of the park and cultivated an attacking thrust. One such counter-attack drew a foul in the 15th minute and saw Jack Silverwood deliver the resultant free-kick of stunning quality into the top corner right-hand of the net for the equaliser - best goal scored in the five finals played thus far.

The remaining half an hour of the half was a drab affair with both teams cancelling each other out in a game of contrasting styles.

The opening minutes of the second-half was proving to be a cat and mouse affair with Dale Club defender Chiodo's right-flank cross headed narrowly wide by Robert Roche while at the other end a driving run by Angel Inn's Bradley Purnell ended with a tame effort with the keeper at his mercy.

Dale Club hit a purple patch and forced the Angel Inn outfit on the back foot for a sustained period. Captain Jack Newell, Rhys McLean, Ben Dobson and Sam Clarke worked overtime to keep the dominant Dale Club at bay.

However, it was Angel Inn goalkeeper Callum Swift who came to his sides rescue time and time again in the face of mounting pressure denying Dale striker Cole Barrett with a point-blank stop with his outstretched legs before producing another finger-tip save from Will Harris.

The game seemed to be heading into extra-time with seven minutes of play remaining before Angel Inn's resistance was breached when a deep cross by Callum Geldart from the left saw substitute Jack Woods stretch his long legs to get the vital touch from close-range for the winning strike which aroused jubilations both on and off the field.

Credit to Angel Inn, the youngest team in the Wakefield Sunday Football League, for putting up a spirited and a sporting performance and the youngest referee in the league, Louie Parker, whose officiating was of a high standard.

The match balls were sponsored by Lightwaves Leisuer & Community Centre.

Man of the match, sponsored by Pennines Trophies (Heckmondwike), went to Dale Club midfielder, Callum Geldart.