Swinton Athletic v Wombwell Main | Hopping across The Pond

Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League

Premier Division

Saturday 9th November 2024

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 14.02

Swinton Athletic 1 Wombwell Main 2, attendance 100

14’ 0-1

51’ 0-2

60’ 1-2

@ Swinton Recreation Ground

The Miners Welfare

Park Road

Swinton

S64 8JH

No Admission or Programme.

I arrived here just over an hour before kick off, just as the players were starting to drift in. It’s a very neat ground for Step 7. The pitch is fully railed, with dugouts set either side of a very smart seated stand, with everything set out in the club colours of black and white. The changing rooms are perched on the top of the grass bank as you enter, with the outside covered in murals and whilst there are no facilities here, the club seemed to use the ‘pub’ next door, which was also where the majority of those arriving by car had parked.

On the field, Swinton are not doing very well, currently bottom of the league table, having managed just two draws from their opening ten matches, although most of their defeats have been by narrow margins. Wombwell Main were seventh and had a healthy following, which is not surprising as it’s only five miles up the road from here. When the visitors took an early lead, I feared the worst for Swinton, but they gave as good as they got and were unlucky to still be trailing at halftime. Six minutes into the second half Wombwell made it 0-2, playing a striker through from the halfway line and he went on to calmly beat the ‘keeper. On the hour mark Swinton pulled a goal back, when a cross from the right was finished with a shot on the turn at the near post. It was end to end stuff for the remainder, but Swinton just couldn’t force an equaliser.

Yesterday the SatNav decided on Dartford Crossing, M11 and A1 for the northbound journey, but went for the more traditional M1 coming back, despite the endless roadworks and speed restrictions, but no other problems occurred, so home for 19.30.