Beckham-esque strike commended at National Game Awards

By Ben Hart, Sportsbeat

Wimborne Town star Dan Bartlett has earned national recognition for a David Beckham-esque strike from the halfway line earlier this season.

Bartlett’s 60-yard effort straight from kick-off against Bristol Manor Farm has been named Huck Nets Goal of the Season at the Non-League Paper’s National Game Awards, in association with Isuzu.

The unforgettable hit helped the Magpies to a dramatic 3-2 win in a thrilling November clash and club chairman Tony Grant says the buzz around the club that day will take some beating.

“I think it’s done over seven million hits,” said Grant.

“Everyone talks about it, it’s a wonder goal and I don’t think we’ll see a goal like that ever again.

“Our assistant manager shouted ‘go for goal’ - he’d actually been sent off by that point.

“We kicked off having just conceded, went straight back to Dan and he hit it over the keeper's head and into the back of the net – fantastic.

“The atmosphere in the club that day was unbelievable.”

The contest would have been remembered as one of the games of the season even before Bartlett’s brilliant drive from distance.

With the score locked at 1-1 heading into stoppage time, Oakley Hanger thought he had stolen the points only for Manor Farm’s Marcus Day to level proceedings.

Supporters of both sides had already been put through the ringer before Bartlett’s breath-taking hit, which sparked delirium.

“It was a totally mad five minutes,” said Grant.

“I think the goalkeeper was a bit mesmerised and surprised by the shot, perhaps could have done better but it went in and that’s the main thing.

“Dan does it quite often in training and you wonder if they’ll come off on the pitch but this was an absolute wonder goal.

“We’re enormously proud of what he’s done, something like that doesn’t happen very often.

“He’s a brilliant young man and he has signed on for us again for next season, so he might hopefully have another one.”

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