Toolstation NCEL Division One
Penistone Church 1-0 Glasshoughton Welfare
Dale Kelly (right) scored two as Penistone stayed top of Division One
A sixth minute Dale Kelly goal gave Penistone Church all three points and maintained their position at the top of the table
In fairness this was certainly a game of two halves. The home side were always on top in the first half and probably should have added to their score but Welfare came out fighting in the second period and with a bit of luck several half chances may have been put away on another day.
Welfare were forced into changes for this game. Captain Adam Hayton returned after suspension in place of another suspended player and recent goal scorer, Andy Horbury, and recently signed centre half Ross Dunlop replaced the unavailable Callum Harrison. After a nervous start Dunlop settled well and went onto have a good solid debut.
The home side started on the front foot and an early corner was headed just over the bar.
Kelly opened the scoring in the 6th minute when he won the ball on the left and he cut inside before beating Andy Holland low into the far corner of the net.
From the restart the home side attacked again but the Welfare defence stood firm to clear. However there was danger again when Tom Jones headed a corner just over the bar.
Welfare tried to hit back with Connor Glavin taking the ball through into the home area but he was blocked out by strong defending.
Welfare probably should have gone two down on the half hour mark when Danny Joynes broke free and only a great save by Holland with his feet diverted the ball for a corner. The resulting corner was headed just over the bar.
Welfare created there best move a few minutes before the break when good passing between several players ended with the ball reaching Hayton whose run ended with him being blocked out by the home defence.
In the first few minutes of the second half Holland saved well with his feet again to divert another dangerous ball for a corner.
However the Welfare team started to up their game after this and Connor Glavin scuffed a shot just wide of the far post before his well taken free kick was held just under the bar by confident home keeper Adam Rhodes. The goalkeeper, who is seen as one of the top keepers in the league, then did similar with a shot from Nathan Keightley as Welfare searched for an equaliser.
They thought they had one on sixty minutes when the ball was bundled home from a corner only for Ashley Scothern to be deemed to have fouled Rhodes in the area.
Welfare came close to scoring on sixty eight minutes when Lewis Akeister hit a shot in which Rhodes palmed onto the roof of the net.
The home side came back and Holland found himself in no mans land on the left as he came for a through ball but the home side were unable to capitalise.
Minutes before the end, substitute Olly Maude fed Keightley a great ball on the right but the diminutive striker’s first time shot was inches wide of the far post.
In the last minute, Rhodes tipped a stunning shot from Josh Morley over the bar. From the resulting corner welfare had their last chance as the ball reached Keightley and his shot seemed to be heading for goal until a defender deflected it away.
What They Said
Glasshoughton Welfare joint manager Darren Holmes
“It was a game of two halves today with both teams struggling against the slope.
“Penistone were very strong in the first half and scored a very sloppy goal which we should have been able to deal with and if we are to push on this season have to do better defensively.
“The second half was a different matter and once we settled down, got the ball down and played some good football. .We worked very hard and if it wasn’t for some good saves from their keeper could and should have got something from the game We also had a stone wall penalty turned down for handball.
“Penistone know they have been in a game today and we look forward to putting things right on Tuesday.”
The Teams
Penistone Church: Rhodes, Richards, Young, Ellis, Jones, Johnson, Moore, Howes, Kelley. Ring, Joynes. Subs. Johnson, Whittington, Dickinson, Stafford, Ambler.
Glasshoughton Welfare: Holland, Marsh, Brearley Hayton, Dunlop. McManus, Glavin, Akeister, Keightley, Scothern (Maude), Morley. Subs. Varley, Nelson.
Thanks to Garry Mollon for this report.