On the 26th May 2007 Doncaster College Deaf FC lined up to play in the English Deaf Challenge Cup Final against St John’s Arsenal. Both teams struggled with the waterlogged pitch, finding it difficult to keep possession and chances were hard to come by.
It was St John’s Arsenal who took the lead with hard driven shot from former Doncaster student and rover’s trialist Daniel Ailey who rocketed the ball low inside the left post, beating a helpless Jon Atkinson.
Doncaster searched for the equaliser and made the most of a free kick inside the gunners half. Rowan Dixon swung in a dangerous ball in from the right, this bounced awkwardly passed the St John’s keeper and rolled into the net. Both teams went into the half time with scores level.
St John Arsenal then got off to a terrible start when Doncaster took the lead following a classic counter attack from a poor Corner. Atkinson reacted quickly and threw the ball towards Mark Sinclair on the right wing who then easily outpaced the covering Matthew Byfield. After breaking clear, Sinclair then shot towards goal, which the keeper could only palm into the path of Peter Drury who slotted the ball home. Daniel Ailey added his second goal in the game for the gunners making it 2-2.
Eventually Doncaster had the last say, three and a half minutes into the allocated five minutes of injury time, Hogan found Sinclair unmarked in the box and he made no mistake heading the ball past the stretching keeper and in doing so, sending the Doncaster supporters into raptures. The game finished 3-2 to Doncaster helping them clinch the EDF Challenge Cup for the 3rd time in 4 years.
Posted: Thu 14-Jun-2007 2:25PM