Toolstation NCEL Division One
Nostell Miners Welfare 2-2 Glasshoughton Welfare
Steve Smith scored twice at the death for Nostell
Two very late goals from Steve Smith gave Nostell Miners Welfare an unlikely share of the points against Glasshoughton Welfare.
It denied Welfare joint manager Darren Holmes a winning return to Nostell, the club he managed for over a year two seasons ago.
Welfare were leading by two goals going into the last two minutes of normal time with a brace from Callum Harrison, but Smith popped up in the final throes with his own brace to deny Welfare who seemed set to claim all three points..
With Brad Kilner injured Glasshoughton were forced into a change with Sam Varley making his first start for the club. For Nostell Neil Bennett replaced Richard Watson in goal.
Glasshoughton opened well although Nathan Keightley could only hit a weak shot at Bennett before a Nostell player played a ball across his penalty area, which was desperately cleared as Rich Collier was ready to pounce.
The visitors had a lucky escape a few minutes later when Mike Brearley sliced a clearance which bounced just wide of a post with Dan Waring struggling to get near to it.
Stefan Connor hit a shot wide for Nostell before he had another good chance but was forced wide by the Glasshoughton defence.
Adam Hayton then crossed a ball into the home area that was well headed away by Ryan Donaghue as Andy Horbury was about to pounce.
Glasshoughton took the lead on twenty one minutes when a Collier corner was missed by the home defenders and Harrison headed powerfully home from six yards.
Nostell came back and a Jake Mason header went just over the bar.
Just before the break Varley hit a shot in which evaded the far post by inches with Bennett stranded. Collier broke through but his weak shot was easily gathered by Bennett and at the other end Franck Zalo hit a wild shot well wide.
Nostell opened well in the second half and a shot was dragged wide of a post. However, it looked as though Glasshoughton had sealed the win on fifty seven minutes when a Harrison free kick from 25 yards somehow beat Bennett low to his right hand post.
Just after the goal Olly Maude sent a great ball over the home defence and only a great hook away by Donaghue prevented the ball reaching Horbury.
On 63 minutes Glasshoughton nearly got a third when Hayton volleyed a ball in from the edge of the area which Bennett got a hand to and after a scramble the ball was hacked off the goal line.
In the last quarter of the game Nostell started their fight back with Connor breaking through and firing wide of a post.
In the last two minutes Hayton hit a free kick over the home bar, but Nostell immediately replied when Smith got his first goal. The visitors defence appealed for offside, but Smith carried his run on and lobbed over Waring into the net.
From the restart Nostell came forwards again and a shot only just cleared the Glasshoughton bar.
In the last seconds the scores were level. Poor Glasshoughton defending saw the ball reach Smith and he ran towards the goal before slotting past Waring to leave the visiting players and officials totally demoralised.
What They Said
Glasshoughton Welfare joint manager Lee Vigars
“That’s two points dropped instead of one gained We were completely in control for eighty five minutes when yet again we switch off and allow a team back into a game.
“The lads are gutted but. we will dust ourselves down and go again next week. We should be sitting in the top three at this point in time but silly mistakes are costing us. If we can just cut them out then some teams will take a real beating from us.”
The Teams
Nostell Miners Welfare: Bennett, Scott Smith, Harris, Zalo, Donaghue, Dixon, Steve Smith, Preece (Robinson), Stacey, Mason (Tom Smith), Connor. Subs unused: Mhlolo, Bernard, Watson.
Glasshoughton Welfare: Waring, Varley, Brearley, Hayton, Walsh, Harrison, Keightley, Keister Horbury (Poskitt), Maude (Moyce), Collier. Subs unused: Kitchen, Jenkins, Simpson.
Who Was In Charge
Daniel Bennett
How Many Were There
69
Thanks to Garry Mollon for this report.