Rob Hunter (left) and his assistant Mark Smitheringale (right) resigned from Glasshoughton Welfare on Saturday
Interim boss Jon Miles threw his hat into the ring to be Rob Hunter’s permanent successor as Glasshoughton Welfare manager after leading them to their first win of 2014, writes James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson).
Hunter resigned after the 2-0 defeat to Parkgate on Saturday and reserve team chief Miles took charge for the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division visit of Liversedge.
Glasshoughton have only publicly announced his departure today and last night, Welfare’s response to the shock news was excellent.
Goals in either half from Del Pollock and Mark Newton earned them a morale-boosting 2-0 victory over a poor Liversedge team.
Welfare are now inviting applications for the job and Miles will now have to wait until Thursday night to find out whether he will be holding the temporary reins again at Armthorpe Welfare at the weekend.
Miles said: “I feel very privileged to have been given the chance to manage the team.
“I know it is down to the committee, but I would like to think we have done enough tonight for me to get another crack at it on Saturday.
“As far as I’m aware, the committee are having another meeting on Thursday and are advertising for applications. They have told me that they would like me to apply and I will be.”
Glasshoughton are in no current rush to appoint Hunter’s replacement, but Miles placed himself in pole position for the post.
From the side that faced Parkgate, four changes were made and Miles brought five local lads into the starting line-up – Pollock, Newton, Jamie Williams, Josh Barratt and Alex Booth.
Glasshoughton showed more determination than a lack-lustre Liversedge side and Miles praised his signings’ impact.
“I thought it was a good performance and it was very workmanlike,” he added.
“We showed a lot of endeavour, but not as much quality. But with five debutants in the side I thought we worked very hard.
“The players were very down (after the news) and I thought the five new lads who have been playing a lower level gave us that impetus. They came in with the confidence of a winning side, even though it was a step-up.
“I think they pulled the other lads up. I thought we deserved to win. They probably shaded it on possession, but on clear-cut chances there wasn’t a lot in it.”
Glasshoughton looked up for the fight early on and the opening goal arrived on ten minutes. Pollock, a Glasshoughton player from the glory days under Craig Elliott, broke through a weak Liversedge defence and struck the ball from 20 yards out.
The ball took a big deflection and with the help of a couple of bobbles, beat goalkeeper Danny King and hit the post before landing in the net.
The goal lifted Glasshoughton and made them believe in a first victory since mid-December. Led by local defender Williams, defensively Welfare looked good. Admittedly they were not put under real sustained pressure from a poor Liversedge side.
The visitors’ best period of play was midway through the second half and Welfare were lucky to escape without conceding. From a corner, former Farsley defender Tom Jackson’s header looked to have crossed the line. Unfortunately for Liversedge, the assistant referee disagreed and Andy Sunley was able to boot the ball away to safety.
Glasshoughton then had a good spell of pressure as they looked to kill off the away side. Pollock went close with a free kick before his corner was headed against the crossbar by Booth.
Then with seven minutes left on the clock, the points were in the bag. Newton’s low speculative 25-yard attempt seemed a straightforward take for goalkeeper King. However, the stopper misjudged it and the ball squirmed under his legs and into the net – a Taibi moment.
The job was done and Miles now has an anxious wait to find out whether he will have at least one more shot at boosting his hopes of becoming the permanent boss of Glasshoughton.
Glasshoughton Welfare: Hagreen, Beaston, Prudhoe (Sunley HT), Chappell, Williams, Tuck (captain), Corley (Serrao 72), Newton, Barratt (Halvorsen 83), Booth, Pollock. Sub unused: McCrum.
Liversedge: King, Haigh (captain), White, Jackson, Hope, Farrer, Dawson (Hey 81), Thompson, Grogan (Charlton 88), D Riordan, Newton. Subs unused: Wilkinson, Talbot.
Referee: C Akers
Ref Rating: 8/10
Attendance: 76
Man of the match: Jamie Williams (Glasshoughton Welfare)