‘You’ll bottle it’ jibe spurs Stump to title
Stump Cross boss Tony Kniveton has singled out his side’s humiliating 7-2 defeat at Ryburn United a month ago as the turning point of their season. That loss, combined with a 3-2 setback against lowly Copley United, left the Halifax AFL title race in the balance.
However, Stump have recovered from an alarming spring slump with six wins in a row in 21 days.
The last of those successes, a 4-0 win over Warley Rangers on Monday evening, helped them relieve Ryburn of the title on goal difference.
It was a far cry from 12 months earlier when Stump had been forced to sit and suffer as Ryburn had beaten Midgley 1-0 on the last day of the season to overtake the black and whites.
Kniveton, whose side were winning a major trophy for the third season running after back-to-back Challenge Cup wins, was delighted his side had “done the business.”
He said it was very unusual for a club with only one team to take the honours because it was difficult to keep fringe players happy and cope with injuries and absentees.
He pinpointed the game at Ripponden Wood on March 28 as a key time.
“That was the low point because we were 2-0 up after 10 minutes.
“A few things were said that day, that we were going to bottle it, and I didn’t have to say a lot in the team talks after that.
“I’m very pleased. In the last three years we have been runners-up twice and now won it.”
Stump had few anxious moments at West Vale on Monday after Dean Lawrence had given them the lead in the opening seconds.
Tom Robinson made it 2-0 following a contentious penalty decision after half an hour.
Challenge Cup finalists Warley had plenty of possession but provided little threat and a fine jinking run and strike into the top corner from Robinson made it 3-0 on 75 minutes.
Substitute Josh Hiley completed the scoring with a late header to take Stump above Ryburn, who had signed off with a 5-1 win over Warley at the weekend.
Stump had to pull out all the stops to beat Northowram 2-1 away on Saturday with a 10-minute spell immediately after half-time crucial.
After a goalless first half, Stump took the lead two minutes after the restart with Ben Hiley’s firm header from a corner and five minutes later Tom Robinson scored following a quickly-taken short corner.
An opportunist goal from Alex O’Keefe on the hour galvanised the Rams but Stump’s defence was well organised.
Calder ‘ 76’s late- seasn surge was completed by a 3-0 derby win away to Hebden Royd Red Star on Friday evening’s derby game. Remi Allen scored twice and Jonny Gibson got their other goal.
Long-time leaders Midgley United are just behind them in fourth, a George Bamford hattrick, a Greg Spink goal and an own goal giving them a 5-0 success at Shelf United. Illingworth St Mary’s, who have won the Halifax AFL Division Two title by a wide margin in their first season, are, from the left, back row: Tony Clarke, Scott Hamilton, Warren Gray, Nick Bell, Luke Prosser, Kyle Butler. Middle: Dan Rosier, Dec Rothery, Mike Gregory, Adam Curry, Gareth Gaukroger, Lee Cartwright. Front: Joe Griffin, Brandon Field, Pete Southwell (management), Rab Langley (coach), Mick Rhodes (management), Ash Holmes, Jake Griffin