One of many “What if?” endings to a Sunderland season.
Yet again, the Lads did all they could to secure promotion to the top division after just missing out the season before, absolutely blitzing Sheffield United by six goals to two at Roker Park to move top of the table with only two games left.
There seemed little chance of such jubilant end-of-game celebrations in the early stages of the match, as the visitors took the lead through defender Tony Kenworthy in the fourth minute, who headed in from close range. However, in the thirteenth minute, Alan Brown was felled in the box and Wilf Rostron sent the goalkeeper the wrong way from the penalty spot.
Shortly afterwards, a Steve Whitworth cross was knocked down by Bob Lee, only for Mick Buckley to crash a first-time drive against the inside near post. Before the Blades could react, Tim Gilbert accelerated into the box, and angled a shot which visiting goalkeeper Conroy fumbled and allowed to roll over the line.
It was 2-1 at half time, and the game was still open.
Mick Buckley came close early in the second half when his shot hit Conroy’s body after a defence-splitting pass from the ever-industious Kevin Arnott.
Not long after that, in the forty-seventh minute, the goal-feast began when a long clearance from Barry Siddall was flicked on by Lee for Brown to use his speed and race towards goal, rounding the hapless Conroy and prodding home.
Ten minutes later, a raucous Roker Park crowd watched as Lee struck to make it 4-1.
Sheffield’s skilful Alex Sabella reduced the lead with a thunderous shot that went in off the underside of the bar and eight minutes later, the crowd were all on their feet, applauding a superb save from Siddall.
Bruce Rioch touched a free kick to Gary Hamson, who sent a ferocious shot goalwards. It took a deflection but even so, Siddall was able to show his amazing reflexes, saving the ball cleanly on the line.
With only three minutes remaining, Brown sent Rostron through, who was brought down in the box, and for the second time in the game, he sent Conroy the wrong way to make it 5-2.
A minute later, the crowd went berserk as Rostron struck again with a blistering left foot drive, completing his hat-trick — but the drama wasn’t over as in the dying seconds, Ashurst brought down Anderson and referee Richardson pointed to the spot for the third time in the game.
Hamson stepped up for the kick, only for ‘Super Siddall’ to fling himself to the right and make a brilliant save. It preserved the four goal cushion we needed in order to top the division.
However, Sunderland boss Billy Elliott should’ve known better than to make predictions at that tense stage of the season.
Well, no-one was locked up (I don’t think), but there was to be more end-of-season agony for the Rokerites — somehow, I can’t imagine such confident predictions from Régis Le Bris?
Elliott went on to praise a Sheffield team that played far better than their bottom three position might suggest, and gave a special mention to their Argentinian Sabella, saying he was the best player from that country of the lot, and even better than Ossie Ardiles. High praise, indeed!
However, Ken Knighton (who later would go on to fill Elliott’s shoes) was a little more cautious.
Unfortunately, we lost our next game at Cardiff, yet could still have been promoted if the final games of the season had gone our way, but it wasn’t to be. Still, the everlasting memory of 1979 for me was beating the Mags 1-4 at St James’ Park, thanks to that Gary Rowell hat-trick.
Every cloud…
