Long Eaton United captain Shaun Rickford scored twice in the 3-0 win at Glasshoughton Welfare
Rob Hunter said that Glasshoughton Welfare’s disappointing 3-0 to Long Eaton United at Leeds Road showed how threadbare his team is, writes James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson).
Hunter has endured a difficult ten days and ensuring that he had a side out for the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division encounter was the main concern going into the game.
The Glasshoughton boss had to field 16-year-old defender Luke McCrum, a Harrogate Town under 19s player, and reserve team striker Josh Prudhoe in his starting line-up.
Welfare never tested Long Eaton goalkeeper Joe McCormack and two goals from captain Shaun Rickford and a late strike from Corey Grantham deservedly won the points for the visitors.
“We never really got going and the toughest thing this week was getting 14 players in the squad,” Hunter said.
“With suspensions, injuries and people away, we have had 12 players unavailable and the hardest thing today was getting a team out. We had a 16-year-old lad come into the team today – Luke McCrum – and he played an hour at centre-half and I’m really pleased with how he has done.
“We had another 16-year-old (Dan Wilders) on the bench. It has been a tough two weeks and the toughest of my life since I came into football.
“Whilst we had 14 players in the squad we never got going. We are seriously lack in strength at set-pieces and defending and picking up second balls. That showed today against Long Eaton.
“Long Eaton were ok. They aren’t anything special. They’re a well-organised ok team and we struggled against them because we have no depth in the team.
“We defended reasonably well. We had James Beaston in the middle of the park and Hilliard Serrao upfront who I thought were outstanding. Their work rate and attitude was absolutely first rate.
“Reece Chappell has been out for a month injured and did very well at centre-half for 90 minutes.
“In essence you need 11 players performing like that every week and at the moment I have four or five playing at an average level. Two or three working really hard and two players not ready for this level yet.”
Tough times: Glasshoughton boss Rob Hunter (left) and his assistant Mark Smitheringale (right) are having a hard time
Long Eaton were dangerous from the word go, but it took 18 minutes for them to take the lead. Grantham stole a march on Beaston and the lively striker broke into the box and slid the ball under the advancing Paul Hagreen. Chappell raced back, but Rickford was there to smash the ball into the net from inches away.
The away team continued their assault on Glasshoughton’s goal. Ben Watkiss thought he had scored when he shot into the seemingly empty goal, only for Welfare captain Alex Low to clear the ball of the line.
Glasshoughton’s Venezuelan striker Hilliard Serrao controls the ball
Glasshoughton lacked a spark and it was inevitable that Long Eaton would score a second. Eleven minutes into the second half the game was over. Substitute Adam Burton’s first act was to head a free kick back across and for Rickford to place in the net from close range.
Hunter introduced former Bradford (Park Avenue) midfielder Paddy Mumbley, who made his Welfare debut at Worksop Parramore last week, and he tried to create some openings for the home side.
United celebrated their third goal with 15 minutes remaining. Low’s attempted clearance fell nicely for Rickford who sprinted away. The angle wasn’t right for the striker to score his hat-trick so he passed the ball across goal for the impressive Grantham. Grantham took a touch before sliding the ball into the net.
Although the game was lost, Glasshoughton kept going and finished the stronger of the two teams and left-back Andy Sunley came close to hitting the target with a long range attempt.
Glasshoughton Welfare: Hagreen, Low (captain), Sunley, Chappell, McCrum (Mumbley 56), Swales, Beaston, Donnelly (Wilders 80), Serrao, Prudhoe, Headley. Sub unused: Tuck.
Long Eaton United: McCormack, Armstrong, Yeomans, Webster, Parker (Burton 56), Hancock, Watkiss (Savage 80), Grantham, Rickford (captain) (Corrigan 80) Baxter. Subs unused: King, Chambers.
Referee: A Hull
Attendance: TBC
Man of the match: Corey Grantham (Long Eaton United)
Match Photos are HERE