George Eustance celebrates his goal for Knaresborough against Glasshoughton. Picture: Craig Dinsdale
Glasshoughton Welfare crashed to their fifth straight league defeat, while Knaresborough Town extended their unbeaten run to six matches with the 4-1 victory at Manse Lane.
Glasshoughton actually took the lead after just four minutes, but Knaresborough hit back and eased over the finish line.
Welfare manager Mick Norbury introduced two new signings to his starting line up in Luke Durham and Brett Lucas and in the opening seconds they could have gone ahead when a shot was blocked on the home line.
However they did take the lead after six minutes when Ash Scothern’s low ball into the Knaresborough area was hooked into the top of the net from eighteen yards by Durham – making an instant impact.
Town came back and Blaine Hobson shot just wide before he equalised on eight minutes when the ball was lost at the edge of the area and Hobson shot strongly past Jordan Watson.
Nathan Perks had a shot blocked for Welfare but then on twenty four minutes the hosts went ahead when George Eustace received a ball from the left and he slotted home.
It could have been worse for Welfare in the next few minutes when Eustace hit a shot wide and Hobson hit the bar with a header. However just before the interval Durham hit a good chance over for welfare and Luke Norbury forced home keeper Jack Rushworth into a fine save.
Welfare had a lucky escape in the first minute of the second half when a Hobson pile-driver cannoned off a welfare post.
Watson then had to make a good stop as the home team looked to increase their lead but at the other end substitute Regan Fish had a good chance for welfare but he shot weakly into the hands of Rushworth.
On 64 minutes Town went three up when Graham Whitehead poked the ball home after an initial shot had been blocked by Watson and then, three minutes later the home side got a fourth, and Hobson his second, when he drilled home from the edge of the area.
Welfare tried to come back with Danny Cawley hitting a shot wide and he also saw a header drop just wide of a post. Just before the end a great pass from Adam Walsh found Perks at the edge of the goal area and although the welfare striker turned well his shot flew just wide of the near pos.
Glasshoughton Welfare: Watson, Morley, Hudson (Coyles), Cawley, Lucas, Walsh, Scothern (Fish), Davies, Norbury (Roberts), Perks, Durham. Sub unused. Pearse.
Knaresborough Town: Rushworth, Lees, Radcliffe (Morris), Pascal, Lenhan,, Parkes, Eustace, Bradley, Lancaster (Collier), Hobson, Whitehead.
Referee: Stuart Royston.
Attendance: 142
Thanks to Garry Mollon for this report.