Wyoming 2 – 1 Doyalson
Our finals coverage this season begins in the Men’s promotion playoffs as the Premier League’s Wyoming Tigers look to save their spot in the top competition against the Doyalson Wyee Wolves, who finished second in Division 1.
It was a tight and tense affair in which both teams knew exactly what was on the line, but ultimately it would be the Tigers taking the first step to retaing their spot, thanks to a late winner.
It began with the first involvement of someone who would be crucial all game long for the Tigers, their goalkeeper, Michael Seaborn, who was a late inclusion into the starting lineup when their regular keeper had to withdraw.
His first save came when Doyalson’s Jackson Stone sent a ball into the box from a left-sided free kick. Stone sent it to the back post, where it was cleared, but only as far as Samuel Bettison on the edge of the box, who swiftly sent the ball towards goal. It looked destined for the top right corner until Seaborn leapt up to make a diving save.
Wyoming’s Reegan Cairns would then win a corner with a deflected shot down the other end, but when that was cleared, it was straight into the path of Stone, who remained forward and began to counter.
Stone had plenty of space in front of him as he took the ball into his attacking half. Two Tigers retreated to get in front of him, but he cut to the right to avoid them before shooting straight into the far post from the edge of the box where it spun away from danger.
This onslaught would continue with more terrific interplay from the Wolves.
On the next occasion, it began on the right when a free kick was played to Jyden Vella, who played it into Christopher Gavin, holding it up in the defensive line, allowing him to lay it back to Toby Williams, who shot on goal and drew another fine save from Seaborn diving to his left.
Wyoming’s first real chance would then ease the pressure somewhat, and it came when Patrick Mills pounced on a loose ball at the back from Doyalson. Mills sprinted onto it down the left for the Tigers and drove straight into the box. It seemed like a shot would come before a heroic piece of defending from Williams, who got across from left centre-back to hassle Mills until his keeper, Joshua Doe, could rush and collect the ball.
The game would then calm down somewhat as it entered into the back end of the half, but that’s when things would heavily swing in favour of the Tigers.
Wyoming’s Henry Walker would send a shot into the post after receiving the ball from free kick into the box, but that was just the start.
Moments later, Seaborn would send a long ball into the box from just his side of the halfway line. It bounced around until Mills struck it on goal, forcing Doe into his own spectacular save high to the left of the goal.
It was beginning to look like nobody would find a goal in this half, but that would change when the Tigers finally found a breakthrough.
Jacob Gilbert played a high and looping ball from the left across to Cairns, who took it on the edge of the box to the right of the goal. Cairns set himself and shot low and hard towards the near post. Doe got down low and appeared to have it saved, but he couldn’t get enough on it, and it went off his hands and into the net for 1-0.
This was a tough moment for the Wolves, who had defended well all game long, particularly down their left, where left back Calum Lee had kept the Tigers’ chances down that side to a minimum.
Still, the goal stood, and halftime would soon be called. Doyalson knew they had it all to do if they wanted to qualify for the final.
The second half began hot for the Wolves when Alex Spindler made a break down the right wing before cutting it across to Ethan Denis, who stormed onto it and shot from the penalty spot, but was just pressured enough to put it over the bar.
Moments later, Walker would make a spectacular last-ditch challenge to stop Stone from running through on goal for the Wolves. Stone had gotten the wrong side of him as the ball was played through, so Walker had to slide, and he did, timing it perfectly and stopping the chance.
This only slowed the Wolves down, but it did not stop them.
In the 59th minute, Doyalson would finally find the back of the net, and it began and ended with Williams.
The sequence started when Williams stole the ball just as Wyoming were entering their final third, and he took it forward towards the halfway line before playing Denis through down the left with a classy pass. Denis powered forward at pace before cutting in and winning a corner.
Stone played the corner in from the left and found Vella in the air, but it was blocked out to Williams at the edge of the box. Williams shot once and hit defenders, seeing it rebound straight back to him, where he set himself and smashed it into the net towards the top right corner, finally beating Seaborn to make it 1-1.
Wyoming would then push to take control of the match, but time ticked away fast with no clear chances falling their way.
Cairns would swing a ball in from the left, looking for Greg Wasson at the far post. It looked dangerous but went out for a goal kick.
Nothing else would fall the Tigers’ way as the Wolves’ defence remained steadfast, and in the blink of an eye, it was the 83rd minute and Doyalson were on the counter.
It was Jamie Witherspoon breaking away, and he got a shot off that drew yet another fine save from Seaborn, who really cemented himself as the hero of the day for the Tigers.
Then, in the 88th minute, disaster struck for the Wolves as a right-sided corner taken by Jordan Stephens was swung all the way into the far side of the net, making it 2-1. From nowhere, the Tigers had taken the lead in a game that looked destined for extra time.
There was plenty of injury time, but chances were limited for a Wolves team surely wondering how it wasn’t them leading as time expired.
One final chance would go their way, but it would be fittingly stopped by Seaborn, who put his body on the line to punch a cross away as Denis collided with him going for the ball.
Not long later, full-time sounded and the Tigers progressed to the final in a great position to retain their spot in the Premier League.
Doyalson will now play Gosford on Sunday for another chance at facing the Tigers for promotion.
Speaking to Wyoming coach Scott Snodgrass, he acknowledged that his side might’ve gotten away with one but praised the heroic efforts of Seaborn to get them across the line.
“Happy with the win.” Snodgrass began.
“We were well below our best. Our energy at training was down this week and again in the game today. It’s been a long season.
“Doylo rattled us at times, and if it wasn’t for Michael Seaborn, our late call-up goalkeeper, the result could have been different.
“The week off will really help us”.
Written by Mark Goodyear
Men’s Division 1 Semi Final Results –
Women’s Division 1 Semi Final Results –
