Toolstation NCEL Division One
Glasshoughton Welfare 2-0 Brigg Town
Former Ossett Town striker Ash Scothern scored for Glasshoughton
After two consecutive league defeats Glasshoughton Welfare returned to the winning groove last night with a win Brigg Town. Goals in each half courtesy of Nathan Keightley and Ashley Scothern gave welfare the points.
The visitors were rocked on Monday with the resignation of their management team and Lee Thompson, Anthony Bowsley, and Nathan Peat took temporary charge for the Leeds Road clash.
Welfare made a couple of changes from the side beaten at the weekend with Sam Varley and debutant Greg Hunter replacing the injured Andy McManus and the unavailable Lewis Akeister.
Welfare looked lively from the off and took the lead on five minutes when a left wing cross from Josh Morley, evaded a defender who slipped, and the ball was hit home from six yards by Keightley.
Brigg attacked the welfare defence from the restart and there was danger when there was confusion between Dan Waring and his defenders over a ball played into the area. Luckily a visiting player ran the ball out of play.
Welfare were taking control of the game and other chances fell their way. Adam Hayton shot just over the bar and goalkeeper Jack Pearson made a great instinctive save from Keightley.
Morley hit a free kick in and Callum Harrison somehow managed to head over the bar from basically point blank range. Hunter will have been disappointed not to have notched a debut goal on the half hour mark when he had a clear header from a corner but his effort went inches over the bar.
Welfare went into the half time interval probably believing that the second goal was not far away. However Brigg had other ideas and in the second 45 minutes it seemed that they would be the side to score the second goal of the game.
There was a very early chance for the visitors when a Charles Fisher shot was deflected just wide of Waring’s far post. Joe Mcfadyen then shot narrowly over and another effort was also deflected over the bar.
One of the best chances came on the 70th minute when Charlie Cleminshaw mis-kicked with only Waring to beat.
Welfare were struggling to get forward at all and they were lucky when a 25 yard Peat thunderbolt whistled inches past a post. Mcfadyen also saw a similar effort fly just wide.
The home side sealed the win on 85 minutes through substitute Ashley Scothern. In a rare attack into the visitors half the ball was played in from the right and Scothern volleyed past Pearson from eight yards.
What They Said
Glasshoughton Welfare joint manager Darren Holmes
“It was very important we got a positive result against Brigg after a couple of poor results and below standard performances.
“We were unsure how Brigg would line up after the recent changes so it was important we started well.
“We certainly did that and dominated play in the first half. .As a contest it should have been over by halftime missing three or four very easy chances but we did get our reward with another well taken goal from Nathan.
“The second half, we didn’t really get going with Brigg playing very well but we defended well and took our chance in the second half. We were well worth our 2 0 win and look forward to Saturday.
“If we are to cement our place in the top half of the table we do need to finish our chances but on the whole very pleased with the result.”
The Teams
Glasshoughton Welfare: Waring, Marsh, Brearley, Hayton, Varley, Harrison, Poskitt (Horbury), Hunter (Scothern), Keightley, Glavin, Morley. Subs unused: Moyce, Bryer, Holland.
Brigg Town: Pearson, Fisher, Crowther, Bosley, J. Thompson, Peat, Cleminshaw, Douglas (Smith), Dean (Greaves), Anderson, Mcfadyen. Subs unused: Coy, Harrison, R. Thompson.