Dearne Highgate 1 Rawmarsh Monkwood 2
A SOLID team performance helped Rawmarsh Monkwood book their place in the Totty Cup Final for the second season running.
Josh Turner struck twice in a hectic last few minutes of the first half to clinch a win which Monkwood failed to build on, despite numerous chances.
Highgate fought bravely and came within a lick of paint of forcing extra-time.
Turner was threatening the Highgate goal as early as the fourth minute but goalkeeper Ben Priestley was equal to it.
Highgate captain Ashley Allen led his team forward and was denied an equaliser on 12 minutes when he raced clear of the Monkwood defence and shot across the face of goal, only to see his shot go wide.
Luke Rayner and Turner had long range efforts saved by Priestley, and Highgate’s Holly West fired narrowly over when she was played through on the left.
The game burst into life on 21 minutes when Turner collected the rebound from his own left-wing cross, beat a defender, and then lashed the ball into the roof of the net from an acute angle.
Highgate’s response was instant. Allen sensed hesitancy in the Monkwood defence and pounced, placing a well-executed shot across Jordan Stobbart in the Monkwood net, and into the bottom corner.
But the first half had one more twist, as Turner nicked the ball from Priestley and fired towards goal, the ball steered home by a defender who couldn’t get out of the way.
Like the first half, the second 25 minutes was slow to get going, but little Ben Cresswell took up the mantle for Monkwood, going close to doubling the lead three times.
Allen was played in behind the Monkwood defence and looked to have scored Highgate’s equaliser but, Stobbart got a hand to his viscous shot and turned the ball onto the cross bar.
Monkwood now play Brampton Ellis in the Totty Cup Final on Monday, March 21, at Swinton Brookfield Junior School, kick-off 3.45pm.
Highgate meet Swinton Brookfield for the Barlow Salmon’s Shield on Monday, March 14, at Kilnhurst St Thomas, kick-off 3.45pm.
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