Mens · Premier Division

Whitmore's 89th-minute winner seals a 3‑2 away win for Playwell United

3‑2Oakfield FC vs Playwell United· 20 Sept 2026· Away

Sam Whitmore scored twice as Playwell United won 3-2 away at Oakfield FC in the Premier Division on Sunday, his second arriving in the 89th minute to settle a match that had been level just five minutes earlier.

Remembering Mary Nielsen

Before kick-off, the club paused to remember Mary Nielsen, who kept the canteen running at Playwell United for over twenty years. Mary kept so many of us warm and fed on matchdays, and she is sorely missed. It was a fitting tribute to a much-loved club figure.

Neville opens it up

Karl Neville, back from injury, put Playwell United ahead on five minutes. Luke Sherwood supplied the ball and Neville met it with a half-volley to make it 1-0.

Oakfield FC levelled on 19 minutes to make it 1-1, and that was how it stood at the break.

Calloway comes on, Whitmore puts Playwell ahead

Tom Calloway came on in defence for Marcus Brennan on 50 minutes as an injury change, and Playwell United continued to work their way into the second half.

The next goal came on 77 minutes. Sherwood found Sam Whitmore, who glanced a header home to put Playwell United 2-1 up.

Oakfield level, then Whitmore wins it

Liam Granger came on in midfield for Chris Maddox on 79 minutes, and Ryan Alderton came on in defence for Danny Pryce on 83 minutes.

Oakfield FC levelled with a set-piece goal on 84 minutes to make it 2-2. Playwell United kept going. On 89 minutes, Ben Cavanagh found Whitmore, who finished to make it 3-2 and win the match.

Both sides collected bookings across the afternoon, with Playwell United picking up one yellow card in the second half and Oakfield FC receiving two across both halves.

Sherwood takes the award

Luke Sherwood was named Player of the Match. The defender set up both of Whitmore's goals and produced a sterling display of how to defend under pressure while supporting the attack at the right moments.

What the 89th minute meant

Manager Shaun Bennet said: “That late goal says everything about this group. We went ahead early, they pulled it back twice, and each time the players found a way to respond, that takes real patience and belief. The lads on the bench made a difference when they came on, and the players who came in settled quickly and gave us something extra in the areas we needed it. We kept creating, we kept winning the ball back, and when we went in front for the last time the players stayed composed and saw it through. It was a close one, and there are things to look at from those final few minutes, but a 3-2 win away from home, scored first and finished late, that's a result that tells you a lot about the character in this squad.”

Taking the belief to Millbrook

Playwell United travel to the Millbrook Community Stadium to face Millbrook Town on Sunday, 27 September 2026, kick-off 2:00 PM. If you're able to make the trip, we'd love to have you there, a win sealed in the 89th minute is exactly the kind of thing worth following.

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