Kasali's last minute winner secures promotion for Central.

Chris Tomkinson’s side beat Avro Reserves in an enthralling and hotly contested final-day promotion showdown, with a last minute Fuad Kasali winner to secure Manchester Football League Division One football next season. Team News Tomkinson fielded a side with three changes from the team who lined up against Cavaliers in Central’s 16-0 win on Tuesday night, with Elliot Regan, Aria Asqari and Rory Robertson replaced in the starting line-up by Tawab Djankpata, Jordan Greer and Chris Wilson, respectively.

Central: Daniel Whiting, Tawab Djankpata, Jordan Greer, Michael Taiwo, Daniel Dolling (C), Chris Wilson, Dennis Jerome, Kaine Martin, Fuad Kasali, Gabriel Wiwoloku (Ruben Lawal 60’, Rory Robertson 80’), Junior Silva.

Unused Substitutes: Zak Bell, Mouhcine Tefahi, Kieran Taylor. Match Report

Central lined up in their usual 5-2-3 formation at Wright Robinson College, with the anticipatory palpitation felt in the air by both teams ahead of the winner takes all final-day clash, which decided who of the two teams would claim the final promotion place.

The game, true to its pressurised nature, was action-packed from the get-go. Avro Reserves dominated much of the opening minutes, with Central feeling their way into the game. The away side looked to probe at Tomkinson’s side with high balls and explorations down the wing – a playing style that would continue throughout the ninety minutes.

Avro received an early yellow card, and the first of many in the fixture, as Tawab Djankpata was brought down by a sliding challenge, preventing Central’s quick break-away in the 4th minute, setting the tone for the match.

Just two minutes later Central saw their first chance, as Avro cleared a cross from their box directly into the path of Michael Taiwo, who headed the ball into the path of Djankpata. The

quick footed forward swiftly shuttled the ball around the opposition’s full back and fired a shot away. Unfortunately, it was straight at the goalkeeper, who calmly parried away the attempt.

The next three attacking opportunities were presented by Avro over the next four minutes in almost identical moves, as their rapid wingers repeatedly broke down the left side of the pitch and looked to get a cross into a dangerous area. Whilst the first cross saw the opposition gifted a free kick for handball, the next two found the head of their striker, with one chance caught by Daniel Whiting and the other sailing over the bar, leading to exhales of relief on the side-lines.

Next was another opportunity for Central to establish an early lead, which ended in another yellow card for Avro in the 11th minute. Djankpata orchestrated the move, skipping over an opposition midfielder in the middle of the park before pushing a through ball into the path of Junior Silva. Silva claimed the ball on the very edge of the box but was pushed over as the home side were awarded a free kick.

Unfortunately, the free kick led to little opportunity on goal and, after a clash of heads forced play to stop for a few minutes as an opposition player received treatment, Avro would see two chances go awry in the coming minutes.

The away side, once again exploring the left side of the pitch, saw their winger shepherded into the corner of the pitch. However, the winger was able to wriggle himself free and cut the ball back to a teammate who shot directly at Whiting from around 20 yards out. Just three minutes later, in the 18th minute, another Avro had another shot of goal from distance which dribbled just to the wrong side of the post.

The game had seen a very scrappy start, with both sides desperate to take home all three points and having multiple chances to establish their own leads. However, it had also been very stop-start, with early cards awarded and a multitude of free kicks given to both sides for numerous offences.

This would continue between the 20th and 33rd minute, with eight free kicks given in that time. Taiwo committed a pour foul on an opposition player in the 21st minute which saw tempers flare in the aftermath, leading to another Avro card and a booking for Dennis Jerome. In the 26th minute, Gabriel Wiwoloku was bundled over on the edge of the box, with the resulting free-kick taken by Silva curling just over the bar.

At the 35th minute mark, the general consensus was that Avro had been dominating the previous period, despite the multiple stoppages, with two chances in as many minutes. Thankfully, Central’s resilient defence was able to keep them at bay.

However, this luck wouldn’t last long as Central would concede the first goal. In the 37th minute, Avro countered an attack from the home side, with their rapid front line taking advantage of the backline and midfield being in disarray as he quickly rounded the full-back and Whiting in one move and shunted the ball across goal to meet his teammate on the goal line.

Despite falling a goal down, Central were able to quickly collect themselves and begin to fight back, dominating the ball. However, despite the home side’s substitutes shouting “we need a goal before half time” as Central broke through the opposition’s backline on multiple occasions in the final five minutes of the half, they were unable to produce an equaliser before the whistle.

Thankfully, the team did not let their heads drop and after an inspirational half time talk from Tomkinson, the side started the second half reinvigorated and motivated. It was not long until their spirit was rewarded, with Whiting kickstarting a counterattack with a long kick to Djankpata on the right side of the pitch, whose cross led to a scrappy corner from Central which Dennis would eventually convert in the 48th minute.

The coming minutes saw Avro look for a response whilst Central searched for a second, but whilst both sides created opportunities, their attacks ultimately faltered. The most significant chance in this time was from a free kick taken by Dolling in the 56th minute. Djankpata used his silky footwork to drift past opposition players down the right until he was brought down, from the resulting free kick, Dolling’s ball found a Central head but the opportunity whizzed over the bar.

In the 58th minute, Avro were gifted an opportunity as Whiting slipped whilst punching away a corner, with the resulting shot blocked on the line by a Central defender. Lawal replaced Wiwoloku in the 59th minute as Tomkinson strived to find another goal from the sturdy Avro defence, and it wasn’t long until his tactical decision paid off.

After a short period of little action, other than the continuous onslaught of fouls, free kicks and corners, Kasali put Central ahead in the 62nd minute with a low-driven shot from inside of the box rifling into the back of the net, sparking celebrations on the touchline.

Just two minutes later, with Central dominating after taking the lead, the home side were looking for another. Another dangerous free kick was delivered by Dolling, but the header was directed towards the corner flag. Kasali rushed to keep it in play and worked his way back into the box past several defenders. However, his shot was punched away by the goalkeeper.

The visitor’s goalkeeper showed another magnificent display of talent in the 66th minute as he thwarted yet another attack on the goal line after Central broke down the left side, keeping his side in the game.

Central would come to rue their many missed chances to double their lead after the first goal, with even more opportunities coming over the next minutes. However, Avro forced their way back into the game and their confidence began to grow.

In the 85th minute, after a multitude of Avro attempts had been successfully defeated by Whiting and his defence over the previous twenty minutes, the opposition finally found their way through. Avro were awarded a free kick which was converted via a header, leaving Central’s players devastated.

However, Dolling showed his impressive leadership qualities as he cooled the rising tensions between the two sides and geed up his team to fight until the end, reminding his side that they needed just one goal in the remaining ten minutes of play, including added time.

Avro looked to shut out the home side and see out the game as a draw. Thankfully, Dolling’s speech worked miracles as his side refused to give up, and they were rewarded in the 94th minute as Kasali scored a last-minute winner, prompting a pitch invasion from Central’s staff and substitutes.

As the final whistle blew another pitch invasion ensued, with Lawal, who has previously been replaced by Robertson due to an ankle injury, hopped onto the pitch to celebrate with his side. Chants of “we are going up” rang out around the Sports Village as the adrenaline coursed through the team’s veins and proud faces promised to fight in the Manchester Football League Division One next season.

Daniel Dolling Interview “I feel elated! I feel absolutely over the moon! All the boys showed so much character there, they showed today why we deserve to go up into that next division, definitely. We’re ready for the next test in the next division next year, for sure.” “I’m happy with how the lads ground out the win today, of course. We went 1-0 down but again, the character is just so good. Everyone is willing to work for each other. The start of the season was a bit shaky but now all the boys are just fantastic. I don’t even know what to say! So good, so good!”

“For next year, we obviously need to start with a strong pre-season, all the lads need to get a bit fitter than we were this season. Some of them have been a bit off the pace at the start, as I said, but towards the end of the season it was all fine. So, its all about the preparation really, we just have to prepare to win. I think that we will be able to do it again next year, we could go up again!” Chris Tomkinson Interview “I feel absolutely ecstatic! The lads were brilliant! They have been brilliant all season. Since January, like I say I have been doing most of this on my own and they have been brilliant. They have stuck by me and they have been an absolute credit to themselves, it just shows on days like this when you end up winning in the 94th minute to get promotion in your first season back. It’s brilliant, I can’t fault any of the lads. I’m absolutely ecstatic for them all.”

“We knew that Avro are a decent team, their two centre backs were fantastic for them today, they cleared everything and blocked everything. They are a really good, solid team and to come away with a 3-2 win is brilliant. Like we said in the changing room before the game, it is a one-off game. It is one of those of who wants it the most and the lads gave absolutely everything and I can’t fault any of them for their effort all season. I’m really pleased.”

“Fuad has been absolutely class this season since he has come in. From minute one he hit the ground running and scored a couple of goals. The guy is a threat. The guy, to be true and frank, probably shouldn’t be playing at this level, he is far too good for it. He is a constant threat all of the time, you know when he is going to get in front of goal that nine times out of ten, he is going to take them, and he did today. I’m absolutely pleased for him because he’s been absolutely tremendous and he is an absolutely brilliant lad as well, I’m so, so pleased for him.” “My plans for tonight? I’ll probably chill and try to reflect on what we have achieved, it has been brilliant! But for next season, yeah, we know it is going to be tough. We have played a couple of teams already in friendlies and in the cup who have been in the division so we know it is going to be like that, it’ll be blood and thunder, sweat and tears. The lads will have to stand up for themselves. The thing is for these lads, and I have just told them at the end of the game, is that they need to get fit. They need to come back lean and ready to go, some of them do need to shift a few pounds! That is the way it goes when you go to the higher level, that is how it is going to be. Hopefully the lads will take it on board over pre-season and we’ll hit the ground running at the end of June and be ready to go. I’m looking forwards to a bit of a break now!”