Dan McDaid opens the scoring for Glasshoughton
Never-say-die Glasshoughton Welfare salvaged a point with a 94th minute equaliser in a dramatic drama-filled 3-3 draw with local rivals Garforth Town, writes James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson).
Glasshoughton captain Darrell Young was also sent off with five minutes to go in the see-saw Toolstation NCEL Premier Division encounter which saw Welfare lead 1-0 at the break.
Dan McDaid was the scorer on his first starting appearance at NCEL level, but Garforth levelled after being awarded a harsh penalty that Josh Cartman converted.
American full-back Taylor Reis then put Garforth ahead before Dalton Harris equalised. Young then saw red and within 60 seconds Curtly Martin-Wyatt seemingly scored the winner for Garforth.
However, with even goalkeeper Paul Hagreen in the Garforth box, a Mitch Boland own goal secured Welfare a point for their persistence and Glasshoughton boss Rob Hunter saluted his players: “It was an eventful game.
“I thought we were the much better team in the first half and had a lot of chances. Garforth maybe had one or two chances, but we should have been three or four up before they had a chance.
“I thought at half-time ‘well we’re 1-0 up, can we go and replicate that in the second half and kill the game?’ Unfortunately a penalty that was a ridiculous decision by the referee has turned the game on its head as at that point I couldn’t see Garforth scoring.
“They got the penalty and all of a sudden they had three or four chances and they could have killed the game. It got them going and we were on our knees at that point.
“We had people dropping out from flu and illness this morning and I could only name two players on the bench today because we were so short of players. Even the physio has not come today because of flu so we were struggling.
“In the end with what has gone with the game swinging backwards and forwards, we got a point in the fourth minute of injury-time so I don’t think it was a bad result today.
“Because of the spirit of the team to keep going in the fourth minute of injury-time and force an equaliser you have to say ‘well done lads’.”
Taylor Reis put Garforth 2-1 in front
Kieron Corley was absent for threadbare Glasshoughton because of flu and midfielder Liam Tuck was unavailable, but it was Welfare who were well on top in the first half.
Headley went close early-on when Garforth were struggling to cope with Welfare’s physicality. With half-time beckoning, McDaid thought he had scored from close range until he saw the assistant referee’s offside flag.
However within a few minutes, Headley showed his quality by delivering a superb ball into the ball which found McDaid who rose above Reis to head home – with the help of the crossbar.
Garforth head coach Graham Nicholas reacted to his side’s poor first half showing by bringing on Martin-Wyatt and full-back Tim Robertson. Wyatt made an immediate impact by nearly catching the three-man Welfare back four out.
The challenge on C J Lyle that saw a penalty given
James Beaston, who made the challenge, is yellow carded
It took ten minutes for Garforth respond, but in a slightly fortunate manner. C J Lyle raced past Matt Donnelly with ease before James Beaston managed to tackle the American with a forceful tackle just inside the penalty area.
Beaston’s won the ball and sent it for a Garforth corner. However, referee Jimmy Price saw it differently and gave a spot kick – the referee claiming that although the midfielder played the ball, the tackle was of a reckless nature.
Cartman sent Hagreen the wrong way and Garforth were suddenly in control of the game. Top goalkeeper Hagreen bailed his team out with a fine save when Wyatt looked set to score, but he could not the inevitable second Garforth goal.
Glasshoughton were running on empty at this stage of the match and Reis struck a fine volley from 18 yards to score his first Town goal and put his team in front.
The lead would only last a matter of moments as Glasshoughton equalised on 75 minutes. Headley was the provider again with a majestic cross which the in-form Harris headed past Bathurst.
Glasshoughton captain Darrell Young was sent off
So 2-2 it looked set to finish until a mad last five minutes which began with the crazy sending-off of Young. Welfare were awarded a free kick on the halfway line and Young grew frustrated that Logan McDaniel was taking his time moving back ten yards. The Welfare captain then shoved the American to the floor to leave the referee with no option but to show him the red card.
That moment left Glasshoughton disjointed and within 30 seconds Wyatt had jinxed his way through several defenders before slotting the ball under Hagreen. Wyatt thought he had won the game for Garforth.
However, this Glasshoughton team of 2013 never throws in the towel and after being awarded a cheap free kick 30 yards from goal, Hunter sent goalkeeper Hagreen into the box.
With almost the whole team in the Garforth 18-yards, Headley was involved again with the delivery of the ball which then cannoned off Boland and past Bathurst to earn Glasshoughton a deserved point.
Glasshoughton Welfare: Hagreen, Donnelly (Curtis 65), Chappell, Beaston, Low, Edwards, Headley, Young (captain), Harris, Serrao, McDaid. Sub unused: Hirst.
Garforth Town: Bathurst, Reis, McDaniel, Allen (captain), Hawksworth, Boland, Rupere, Akeroyd (Martin-Wyatt HT), Cartman, Lyle (Greenhalgh 90), Bower (Robertson HT). Subs unused: Woodhall, Oyebanji.
Referee: Jimmy Price (Bradford)
Attendance: TBC
Man of the match: Russell Headley (Glasshoughton Welfare)
Match Photos are HERE