Mark Greaves’ Eccleshill United won their second consecutive match by beating Glasshoughton
Liam Bartle’s second half header earned Eccleshill United a second straight victory with the only goal in the win over Glasshoughton Welfare.
Welfare missed many early chances and were punished when a Liam Bartle header clinched the points for the home side.
Welfare really looked good for this game in the opening minutes and attacked straight from the first whistle. A cross from the left in the opening seconds saw a header from Ashley Scothern tipped away by home keeper Joe Stead and the follow up shot by Kingsley Wetherald struck a defenders head to be deflected for a corner.
From this big defender Leon Cusworth headed just wide. Dell Pollock then shot over the home bar before Wetherald found himself with the ball at the right edge of the six yard area. The striker dithered and eventually his pass into the goal area was deflected for a corner.
The home team were not to be outdone and Bartle hit a shot just wide. Welfare keeper Jordan Watson then had to produce a great block with his feet to prevent welfare going behind.
For Welfare Nathan Keightley drove a 25 yard effort just over the bar and Wetherald had a great chance when one on one with stead but he could not control the ball.
Just before the interval Welfare’s Wayne Hudson broke down the right and his cross was deflected for a corner. A Regan Fish pass from the right was mis-kicked by Ashley Scothern in front of goal and then Fish himself shot just over the bar.
Stead pulled off another good save before Wetherald fired another shot just over the bar. The same player also volleyed another shot just past a post.
The hosts were looking dangerous on the break and Joe Firth shot just wide and Bartle shot just over after a great through ball.
Bartle scored the winner on 70 minutes when he headed home a corner from the right.
A few minutes after this Welfare manager Mick Norbury was sent off by referee Ricky Taylor when he argued with the official after his side were stopped from quickly taking a free kick.
In the last five minutes Watson produced fine saves from Ben Hardy and Liam Charles to stop Welfare falling further behind. Then Wetherald put a great pass into the home area where Stead made a great reflex save to keep a Dell Pollock header out with the follow up shot being hit just wide by Ryan Smith.
Eccleshill United: Stead, Craven, Kitson, Cooper, Springer, Slater, Hardy, Firth, Turner, Harrop, Bartle. Subs. Cattley, Hammond, Charles, Beck.
Glasshoughton Welfare: Watson, Hudson, Morley, Lindley, Cusworth, Keightley (Williams) (Thomas), Fish, Scothern (L. Norbury), Pollock, Wetherald, Smith.
Referee: Ricky Taylor
Attendance: 93
Thanks to Garry Mollon for this report.