Stockton Town travelled to local rivals Wolviston, knowing a win would take their points total to a Wearside League and club record of 107, which would mean we had only dropped 7 points all season.
The game opened with Stockton well on top but without creating any goalscoring chances and it fell to Wolviston to create the first chance. Wolviston hit the post after 19 minutes, Nicholas Robinson’s shot came back off Michael Arthur’s right hand post and went across the face of goal, with no player around the ball went out for a throw in.
This fired Stockton into action and anything Wolviston can do, Stockton can also do as Sonni Coleman fired against the Wolviston crossbar and the ball flew over.
After 42 minutes the deadlock was broken, Sonni Coleman again hit the bar but this time ex Wolviston player David Dowd won the ball and fired past the Wolviston keeper Jonathan McLone.
Stockton had most of the play and should have increased their lead after 51 minutes Kallum Hannah broke free but McLone saved from the Stockton striker.
Kallam Hannah needed 1 goal to secure the Golden Boot award and he should have scored after 75 minutes when he found himself one on one with McLone, he tried to beat the keeper at the near post but the ball grazed the post and went out for a goal kick.
Stockton were dominating the game and continued to miss chances and they were made to pay when Wolviston broke down the wing after 80 minutes, Dwaine Brown raced clear down the right wing, crossed, found James Rowe bursting into Stockton’s box and he who fired past Michael Arthur for Wolvistons equaliser.
Stockton were determined to win the game, as not only was the record points total at stake but leading scorer Hannah wanted the League’s Golden Boot. They were not to be denied and following a corner taken by Max Craggs in the 90th minute Tom Coulthard turned the ball past McLone to put Stockton 2-1 up.
Stockton were not finished there however and in the 2nd minute of stoppage time Wolviston won a corner and McLone came downfield and challenged the Stockton keeper Arthur, who won the ball and cleared up field. Macaulay Langstaff raced on to the clearance, poked the ball past Wolvistons last defender for Kallum Hannah to run onto towards the unguarded goal. Kallum steadied himself before rolling the ball into the empty net to secure the Golden Boot and to record his 55th goal of the season.
The goal was celebrated by the whole team as if it had clinched a Cup Final victory, which says it all about the spirit and camaraderie of this group of players.
