NCEL DIVISION ONE
WOMBWELL Town celebrated ‘the greatest day in our history’ by beating neighbours Dearne and District in the play-off final in front of 1,498 fans but will now look to have even better days in the future.
The two clubs, who are five miles away from each other, competed in front of a crowd which was more than double Town’s record attendance.
Jordan Kershaw and Oliver Fearon put them 2-0 up then, after Bayley Lowe pulled one back before half-time, Fearon netted again early in the second half. Jamie Austin scored late on but Dearne had a man sent off and could not level.
The Wombwell club now join Penistone Church in the NCEL Premier.
Town manager Karl Rose: “It was an absolutely amazing day. I am delighted for everyone involved with the club.
“I thought it was a well-deserved win. We bossed the first half and I was disappointed we were only one goal up.
“Credit to Dearne, they never stopped. They put us under pressure. We were ecstatic to hear the final whistle.
“It’s the greatest day in the club’s history. The turn-out was unbelievable.
“It was absolutely rammed and the atmosphere was great. Fans on both sides sang for 90 minutes.
“From when we first set it up to getting 1,500 is a dream. The day went without incident. That’s down to a lot of planning by our volunteers and the respect shown by both sets of fans.
“My players have been immense.
“We just missed out on the title but went again and beat two good teams in the play-offs.
“They never stop running and they’ve got hearts the size of dustbin lids, with a little sprinkle of skill in there.”
The Wombwell club’s ultimate aim is to reach at least the Northern Premier League, where Shaw Lane AFC once played before folding.
Rose said: “This season has taken us to a different level. You look at the potential there. We’ve had crowds of about 400, 600 and 1,500 in the last three games. We can kick on. We want the community to be invested in us.
“Straight away we’re thinking about next season. We want to challenge at the top. We don’t just want to sit in that league.
“We will be in the FA Cup next season too which is a dream come true for us.
“We have had five full seasons, if you take out Covid, and we’ve got four promotions. Who is to say where we can we go in the next five years if we keep improving on and off the pitch? It’s the best group of players we’ve had down here. We will look to improve on that.
“I want to steer the club as high as we can go.”
Rose believes Dearne can bounce back next season. He said: “I am sure they will be right up there. That will have hurt them but they have to use that heartbreak to build and come back.
“You look at the strides they have made and they will be looking to win the league next year, and there’s no reason they can’t. They have great players, coaches and a very good set-up.”
Meanwhile, Wombwell Town reserves finished their title-winning league season with a 3-0 win over Royston in County Senior Division Two.
Town reserves will now host Grange Moor Saints in the Sheffield FA Saturday Trophy final on Saturday.
