Star striker Joe Thornton runs to Lee Morris’ father after Matt Thornhill put Shaw Lane Aquaforce 3-1 in front at Nostell Miners Welfare
Title-chasing Shaw Lane Aquaforce had to work really hard for their 3-1 victory at resurgent Nostell Miners Welfare – two quick-fire second half goals being the difference.
The trip to Crofton was always going to be a potentially sticky wicket for Aquaforce because of Nostell’s recent form of two straight Toolstation NCEL Premier Division wins.
The victories have put them on course to secure safety and they’ll easily do it on the basis of their performance against a team which has a great chance of league and FA Vase glory this season.
Lee Morris did put Shaw Lane in front, but Nostell hit back through Jack Fisher and they wasted a glorious opportunity to take the lead at the end of the first half.
That came back to haunt them as Morris and Matt Thornhill both scored within the space of a minute on the hour to send the three points back to Barnsley.
Nostell’s Dale Kelly goes in hard on Shaw Lane defender James Cotterill
Jack Fisher heads Nostell level
It was a cagey affair from the start – Shaw Lane had a lot of possession without seriously testing Nostell goalkeeper Ben Saynor.
The home side packed their midfield and made it difficult for Shaw Lane to break through.
Morris, last week’s hat-trick hero at Armthorpe Welfare, managed to do so on the half hour with a excellent low strike from a tricky angle.
He almost scored again straight after when his overhead kick was cleared away off-the-line.
Then rare defensive mistakes from the visitors allowed Nostell back in the game.
Defender Fisher rose above Andrew Fox to superbly head home a Nostell corner to draw his side level.
Then on the stroke of half-time, a tasty tackle on James Cotterill by Nostell captain David Bordman sent the latter scuttling away. He teed-up Steve Wales and the midfielder attempted to go round several away defenders and goalkeeper Ben Gathercole on the edge of the box.
The goal opened-up as Gathercole committed himself and Shaw Lane were only saved when Wales blazed the ball over the crossbar.
Lee Morris slots home Shaw Lane’s second goal
Photo-bombing at its best: Joe Thornton steals the shot as Lee Morris runs off to celebrate
It was a huge let-off for Shaw Lane and a warning they didn’t forget as they took the game to Nostell in the second half.
A bit of mis-control from Steve Istead worked quite well for Shaw Lane as Morris was able to race through and go past Saynor and score with an easy finish.
Nostell were penned in their own half and almost immediately from kick-off, Saynor’s mis-cued clearance on his weaker left foot fell straight to a visiting player and it was left to Thornhill to bury the ball with a cool finish.
Shaw Lane made the inevitable changes with next week’s FA Vase quarter-final with Glossop North End on the mind. This enabled Chris White, their new signing from Stocksbridge Park Steels, to make his debut.
In the closing stages, Nostell were on top with Gathercole needing to make two saves from Rob Bordman and another from Fisher.
Nostell Miners Welfare manager Paul Lines:
“I’m unbelievably proud.
“Two quick-fire goals killed us, but I thought we were never out of the game.
“If we had gone in at half-time 2-1 in front it would have been a different game.
“It was a game where we were going to give a right good blast and see how we have come.
“If we could have got a draw or a win, it would been fantastic. Having said that, I’ve still got a performance out of them and that’s the main thing.
“There’s a few disappointed lads in there because I think if one or two things had broke for us, it might have been different.”
Shaw Lane Aquaforce manager Craig Elliott:
“I knew it would be a tight game because they have brought some good players in and had some good results.
“We scored the goals at the right time, back-to-back with each other sort of killed it.
“In games like this it always important to try and get in front and then take it from there. When they equalised it like we would be up against it, but it was a good win in the end.
“At half-time, 1-1 was a fair reflection of the game. It was just about grinding the result.
“At this stage of the season I think nerves are going to play a part and people are already telling me scores from other games and there’s still 16 or 17 games left.
“I think it is going to be like that in most games and it is simply about getting three points and I don’t care how we do it.”
Nostell Miners Welfare: Saynor, Thompson, Johnson (Moxon 86), Davies, Fisher, Porter, Wales, D Bordman, Kelly, R Bordman, Doran (Poole 84). Subs unused: Varley, Rhodes.
Shaw Lane Aquaforce: Gathercole, Stohrer, O’Brien, Istead (captain), Holt, Cotterill, Fox, Thornhill, Thornton (Foster 84), Morris (Kelsey 76), Moke (White 71). Subs unused: Conway, Danville.
Referee: Peter Sporne
Ref Rating: 8/10
Attendance: 95
Man of the match: Matt Thornhill (Shaw Lane Aquaforce)
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