Doncaster League
Division 1 Knock Out Cup Final
Saturday 25th May 2024
Kick Off 11.00 Actual 11.04
Bawtry Town 3 A.F.C. Doncaster Town 3 (A.E.T.) (5-6 pens) attendance 214
7’ 1-0
26’ 1-1
71’ 1-2
90’ + 1, 2-2
106’ 2-3
118’ 3-3
@ Doncaster Knights R.U.F.C.
Castle Park
Armthorpe Road
Doncaster
DN2 5QB
£5 Admission
£2 Programme available, didn’t bother buying.
With the Doncaster League playing their three Saturday finals here today (there are two Sunday League ones tomorrow) it was a great opportunity to see a football match at the Castle Park home of Doncaster Knights R.U.F.C. who play in the R.F.U. Championship. It’s an impressive set up, with a capacity of around 5,000, with a large main stand with 1,650 seats and an open ten step terrace opposite, whilst there is a section of open seating at one end. As well as a mobile caterer (very expensive) there was a food/drink outlet behind the left hand goal end, but without doubt, the best for value was certainly from the large bar beneath the main stand. Car parking was available, free of charge, in the club car park as you enter off Armthorpe Road.
We opted for the first game of the day, the Division 1 Knock Out Cup Final, scheduled to kick off at 11 o’clock, which got underway four minutes late. It was 2nd versus 5th, as far as final league positions go and looked like it would be going to form when Bawtry took a seventh minute lead and were in total control of the early exchanges, but Doncaster drew level midway through the half and it became much more even. Doncaster edged in front with nineteen minutes left, when they finished a through ball with a one on one finish into the top corner, that came back off the stanchion of the goal frame. It looked like it would be enough to win the cup, but a minute into stoppage time Bawtry drew level, when a ball over the top saw the striker win the race against the on rushing ‘keeper and nick it past him, before an easy finish from close range.
So, extra time beckoned. Very little of note in the first period, apart from what seemed like continual stoppages, as players went down with cramp after almost every challenge. A minute into the second period and Doncaster were back in front, breaking quickly down the right, before playing the ball across for a finish into the bottom corner. Once again they were close to the winning line, but with two minutes left, a header was flicked on and the ball was dispatched into the bottom corner of the net to make it 3-3.
It was now left to penalties to decide the winners. Despite missing their first kick, which hit the crossbar, Doncaster scored their next six. Bawtry had seen their second kick saved and their seventh one sail high over the crossbar, so Doncaster took the shootout 6-5. What with the late kick off, a drinks break in each half, as well as what seemed like endless stoppage time, followed by the extra time and penalties, it was pushing 14.00 when this finally finished. Thankfully, our planned afternoon game, which was due to kick off at 14.30, was only fifteen minutes drive from here, so no need to panic.
