31/8/1971
Blades 3 (Dearden 2, Woodward (pen)) Huddersfield 1 ( Jimmy Lawson)
I remember our goals but not Huddersfield's. We went two up early in the game with a Dearden header
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and then a Woody penalty that sent keeper David Lawson the wrong way
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In the 2nd half Jimmy Lawson (no relation to the keeper) pulled a goal back before Dearden made sure of the win with a brave goal, he dived in mid air to hit a pass by Currie past the keeper and he got injured by Roy Ellam's challenge. He received congratulations by his team mates as he laid almost motionless on the ground. He got a big round of applause from the crowd as he got carried off and replaced by sub Gil Reece.
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I remember thinking that we are still at the top of the league after beating a team who comfortably won the 2nd division the previous year.
Years later my dad and I were talking about David Lawson (I think he was playing for Everton at the time) and my dad called him a "big head". I asked him why he thought that. He recalled being outside the players entrance after our 3-1 win in 1971 as I was autograph hunting (I do not remember this and it wasnt often that I went autograph hunting after a night match , maybe it made sense as it was still the school summer holiday and I didnt need to get up early in the next morning). When David Lawson came out of the players entrance to make his way to the coach, my dad said to him "that was a great save from a Woody shot!", the keeper looked straight at my dad with a quizzical look saying "Woodward?!", shrugged his shoulders then looked away shaking his head saying "Alan?!". Although I do not remember the save but I agree with my dad that it was a twattish behaviour by Lawson!
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Scores, scorers and line ups that evening
From the programme
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