Hallam FC 3-3 Goole AFC.

A late goal from the visiting James Eyes denied the Countrymen all three points on the final day of the regular season as Hallam were held to a 3-3 draw by Goole, who will be playing their football in Step 10 next season.

The first half was where most of the action happened in truth, as with not even 4 minutes gone on the clock, a miscommunication in the Hallam defence saw a Goole player brought down in the box, and the referee pointed to the spot without hesitation. Visiting captain Iwan Heeley made the hosts pay early for their sloppy start by dispatching the spot kick comfortably past Hugo Warhurst (0-1).

In a remarkable 14 minutes period following that early opener, Craig Denton’s men completely turned the game on its head, starting with the equaliser from Calum Ward, who smashed the ball home on the rebound after his original effort smacked back off the crossbar moments prior (1-1).

Ward almost had a second to his name just minutes later, only for his tap-in from Rio Allan’s cut back to be cleared at the last minute by the Goole defence.

In the 11th minute, the hosts’ comeback was complete, as a handball in the Goole box gifted the Countrymen a chance to put themselves in front from the spot, despite some protests from the visitors. Allan then stepped up from 12 yards to slot the ball past Goole goalkeeper Crosby (2-1).

Five minutes after that, Hallam added a third, which would be as good as it got for the home side in this contest. After Leon Howarth sent a good low ball into the box, Ward was at the back post to guide the ball in at the tightest of angles to seal his brace (3-1).

Plenty of chances came and went for the hosts to further extend their advantage throughout the rest of the first 45, with Ward, Allan, James Cadman and Howarth all going close but seeing their strikes not find the back of the net.

A second 45 completely dominated by the visitors wasn’t even two minutes old when Goole captain Iwan Heeley latched onto a clearance from a Hallam defender, took the ball down well and fired home brilliantly past Warhurst into the bottom corner from quite some distance (3-2).

Hallam were only restricted to one decent opportunity in the second half, with Leon Howarth seeing a volley whistle just past the far post.

James Eyes would be the visiting player who had the final say in this final-day clash as after receiving the ball in from the left hand side, the Goole no. 10 fired home on the volley past Warhurst to earn his side a thoroughly deserved point (3-3).

The Countrymen made to settle for a draw on the final day of the season, but now their attention turns to a huge play-off semi-final next Saturday (April 12th), where Craig Denton’s side welcome Thackley (who snuck into the play-off places on the final day) to Sandygate.

Report – Jensen Colman

Photography – Peter Willis – Instagram