Ossett United staying up after results go their way on nervy final day
Ossett United were celebrating on Saturday despite being unable to win their final game of the season in the NPL East.
Despite suffering a narrow 2-1 defeat to play-off bound Bradford (Park Avenue) Ossett achieved their aim of staying in the league as results elsewhere meant they avoided finishing in the bottom four.
James Walshaw’s men had to wait on news on their relegation rivals, but relief came with Bishop Auckland losing 3-2 to Blyth Spartans and Blyth Town going down 4-2 to Garforth Town in their last matches.
It meant United finished a point ahead of both and can now look forward to building a squad to play at this level again next season.
In their own final game in front of a bumper 909 crowd the Ossett team battled in the first half against opponents who needed to win to book their play-offs and were still very much in the contest with the match still goalless at half-time.
But it was Bradford who went ahead just after the hour mark through Jameel Ible and within three minutes they had a second as Louie Chorlton netted.
United now had a mountain to climb, but they kept going and were rewarded when the referee gave them a penalty. Ben Tweed stepped up and held his nerve to make it 2-1 and set up a big finish.
However, Avenue were able to hold on for the three points they needed and with the results from the other games coming through Ossett joined them in celebrating.
"Of course I’m absolutely delighted we’ve stayed up,” said manager Walshaw after the game. “I feel like a weight’s been taken off me.
"I’ve been involved in football for 20 plus years and I don’t think I’ve ever cried twice in a period of time, which I’ve done today.
"It’s just a relief and looking at the game there’s a frustration because we’ve played Park Avenue, who are a very good side and in the play-offs for a reason, and we’ve more than matched them.
"You look at the second half and they were hanging on. We’ve shown our ability and although we lost it just showed how much it cares to the players.
"Yes, we haven’t had a great run of results, which is why why are in the league position, but they showed that it matters to them. I’m over the moon that they haven’t got a relegation on their CV. I’ve never had that, I want to be successful, the players want to be successful and it’s just a relief.”
Walshaw added: “I’m pleased for the club that we are staying in this division and for the fans – they were outstanding last week travelling in numbers for a very good win and then again in numbers today. They have really spurred us on.”