Del Pollock (right) scored twice for Glasshoughton
Two second half goals from Del Pollock almost booked Glasshoughton Welfare a dream tie with arch rivals Pontefract Collieries in the next round of the Emirates FA Cup.
Glasshoughton were five minutes away from a magnificent shock victory over North West Counties giants Runcorn Linnets when the visitors levelled the game at 2-2 at Leeds Road.
The battle to take on Pontefract goes to a replay at Runcorn this coming Tuesday evening.
In front of a decent crowd Runcorn were the first to show when a dangerous ball from the left was comfortably collected by welfare keeper Matt Stables.
Welfare came close on 15 minutes when Pollock got through on goal but his shot was beaten away by Runcorn keeper Ritchie Mottram.
Back came Runcorn and Stables blocked a shot from Kurt Sherlock and then saved a follow up shot well.
Tom Coyles drove a shot wide for Welfare before Runcorn took the lead on 30 minutes with Sherlock getting through the home defence and he slotted past Stables to the delight of the travelling supporters.
Runcorn were on top now now and Simpson fired into the side netting when a pass across goal may have proved more profitable. Sherlock had a shot saved by the legs of Stables and defender Josh Morley cleared a goal bound effort off the line. For Welfare a corner from the right saw the ball just skim the head of Pollock.
Welfare opened the second half on the front foot and on 50 minutes got his first of the game. A Morley corner from the right bounced up to Pollock and he steered a header past Mottram from 8 yards out.
Welfare were then lucky when a 25 yard free kick from Sherlock hit the home bar and on bouncing down onto the line the ball was collected by Stables.
On 60 minutes Pollock got his second of the game. Danny Cawley played the ball to Reagan Fish who beat two men before squaring the ball to Pollock who shot past Mottram from 10 yards.
Despite this the visitors looked dangerous and after a goalmouth scramble the ball was cleared by welfare’s Andy Seed.
Welfare’s hopes of a win were dashed on 85 minutes when the ball was played across the Welfare defence and substitute Mark Houghton curled the ball over Stables into the far corner.
During 6 minutes of injury time welfare substitute Kyle Fish was brought down 25 yards out but Tom Carr hit the resultant free kick wide of the target.
Glasshoughton Welfare manager Mick Norbury:
”My lads were quality again. We seem to be getting better in every game.
“Nobody thought we had a chance today against them and for them to equalise with five minutes to go shows that to come to us and win then you’re going to have to earn it.”
Glasshoughton Welfare: Stables, Coyles, Morley, Seed, Williams, Carr, R Fish, Middleton, Cawley (Blackburn), Pollock (Snaith), Prudhoe (K Fish). Subs unused: Norbury, Kirk.
Runcorn Linnets: Mottram, Brislem, Atherton, Humphreys,Buckley, Ellison (Robinson) Simpson, Hamid, Sherlock (Halfacre), Smith (Houghton), Cross.
Referee: Adam Smith
Attendance: 180
Thanks to Garry Mollon from Glasshoughton Welfare for this report. You submit reports, team-lists and photos to Non League Yorkshire by emailing info@nonleagueyorkshire.com.