Mark Joyce’s Worsbrough Bridge won for the first time at their new home of Grimethorpe
Worsbrough Bridge won for the first time in nine Toolstation NCEL Division One matches after beating manager-less Glasshoughton Welfare 2-1.
The victory, a welcome boost for Mark Joyce and his club, is Worsbrough’s first in the league since moving to Grimethorpe.
Bridge have now moved out of the relegation zone and dragged other teams into the battle for survival.
Glasshoughton, under the control of Roly Lanes and Jon Miles, opened brightly and new striker Micky Dunn was unfortunate not to score in the first seconds when he was blocked by keeper Christian Bark and a defender.
The home side went ahead on six minutes when a corner was powerfully headed home by Nick Galloway.
Welfare came close ten minutes later when Ashley Scothern prodded a Welfare corner wide. However at the other end Connor Rollinson headed just wide and Jimmy Williams cleared of the line after a mix up between Matt Stables and his defenders.
Welfare came close on twenty two minutes when a Scothern free kick was pushed over the bar by Bark.
Just after this Luke Durham bore down on goal and was blocked by Bark and then the keeper also foiled the lively Dunn in a similar situation.
On 40 minutes Dunn was again foiled by the keeper and then Danny Cawley shot wide after a good welfare attack. Just before the break Scott Whittington should have had a second for the hosts but headed wide with only Stables to beat.
Just after the restart a cross to the far side of the Worsbrough goal was just missed by Cawley and Welfare were made to pay on fifty four minutes when, after a goalmouth scramble Jack Portman prodded the ball home.
As the half wore on Bark made great saves from Dunn and Durham and he then made a great double save when firstly, a Scothern effort was blocked and then, the follow up shot by Dunn was also blocked by the keeper.
Welfare pulled a goal back on seventy minutes when a shot from the left struck the head of debutant Adam Dawson and looped over Bark into the net.
As the game entered the last few minutes Portman was sent off for the hosts and with virtually the last kick of the game Dunn struck a shot against the foot of the post for Welfare.
Worsborough Bridge: Bark, Gillespie, Joyce, Galloway, Hunter, Dawson, Rollinson, Poskitt, Portman, Whittington, Oldham. Subs: Spruce, Peace, Foster, Jacobs.
Glasshoughton Welfare: Stables, Kellett, Romaniw, Williams, Cusworth, Cawley, Scothern, Pearse, Dunn, Norbury, (Davies), Durham. Subs unused: Walsh, Horton.
Referee: Matt Tyers
Attendance: 20