Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
Maltby Main 2-1 Armthorpe Welfare
Maltby Main goalkeeper Jamie Bailey and his defence managed to hold off a late fightback from Armthorpe
Lewis Benrose scored twice as Maltby Main recorded back-to-back wins to 13th in the table thanks to a derby win over Armthorpe Welfare.
Former Armthorpe player Luke Norbury brought the visitors back into it, but Maltby held on.
It was another cold and windy afternoon in Maltby but that didn’t stop them from battling on for another 3 massive points. Armthorpe started the brighter side and were almost rewarded when Josh Gibbons had an attempted cross hit the bar.
Maltby almost took the lead thanks to a spectacular overhead kick from Lee Hill which just went wide of the post. Armthorpe continued to press as Jack Slidall had several effort in which he dispossessed Josh Nodder and skied his effort high and wide.
Maltby then grew into the game and had numerous chances themselves. Josh Hemmingway skiing over a 1 on 1 and Nodder having an effort saved by Leigh Overton before Steve Hopewell missed a good chance as his shot went over. Maltby’s hard work paid off just past the half an hour mark thanks to a goal from new signing Lewis Bemrose, a perfectly waited through ball from Nodder saw Bemrose beat the offside trap and calmly slotted past Overton.
Armthorpe immediately pushed for an equaliser as David Buck headed over from close range. Just before the half time whistle, Hopewell had a glorious opportunity to double Maltby’s lead but squandered in front of goal.
A second half saw Maltby dominate the ball and straight away almost added a second when Lee Hill’s header was inches wide. Minutes before the hour mark and Maltby did double their lead thanks to another goal from Bemrose as some Barcelona like football from Josh Hemmingway played through Lee Hill who then squared to Bemrose who couldn’t miss despite the appeals for offside.
Maltby could have finished the game off if it wasn’t for a spectacular save from Overton to deny Hopewell from five yards. The last 20 minutes Armthorpe turned up the tempo and missed a glorious chance to equalise as Jack Walker put wide. Armthorpe did pull a goal back thanks to substitute Luke Norbury as his effort from the edge of the area left Bailey with no chance, then pushing for an equaliser, Jack Walker had an effort blazed over.
Maltby almost added a third and finished it off but if it wasn’t for some heroic defending by Craig Aspinall clearing an effort off the line. Maltby then had their own hero thanks to some brilliant defending from Joe Davies saw him clear from the same position.
Armthorpe pressed for an equaliser but Maltby defended like Lions and wouldn’t be beaten again and in the end grinded out the win.
Maltby Main: Bailey, Swales, Hibbert, Davies, Austin, Hemmingway, Gibson, Hill, Hopewell, Bemrose, Nodder. Subs: Carroll, Cusworth, Poole, Rigby, White.
Armthorpe Welfare: Overton, Kurde, McLaughlin, Buck, Taylor, Walker, Gibbons, Aspinall, Parkhouse, Penty, Slidall. Subs: Yousefi, Handley, Norbury, Biggs, Muirhead.