Toolstation NCEL Division One
Glasshoughton Welfare 1-2 AFC Emley
AFC Emley left-back Liam Schofield (in green) scored his side’s second goal at Glasshoughton. Picture: Mark Parsons
AFC Emley moved closer to leaders Penistone Church with a fifth straight league victory.
In the first few minutes Nathan Keightley put the ball into the visitor’s penalty area, but the chance went begging. Then only a defender’s foot stopped a Ash Scothern pass reaching Keightley in a dangerous position.
At the other end though Welfare keeper Andy Holland had to get down quickly to smother an effort from an on rushing attacker. The keeper then came to the rescue when Ross Dunlop allowed the ball to slip under his foot. Joe Brennan looked certain to score but Holland was quickly down to push his shot away.
Connor Glavin hit in a speculative thirty yard shot in which failed to trouble to trouble Graham MacLachlan in the visitors goal.
Emley took the lead on thirty four minutes when a cross from their right was knocked back to Ash Flynn. The Welfare defence failed to react and Flynn latched onto the ball and drove it past Holland.
Emley went for a quick second with Flynn flashing a shot across the face of the home goal. He also had a twenty five yard shot saved at the second attempt by Holland and then a Kieran Ryan shot missed the far post by inches.
Welfare had a great chance in the first minute of the second half. Scothern seemed to have a clear view of the goal, but he tried to pass and the ball got caught under his feet.
Welfare were made to pay on 48 minutes when the lost the ball on the left. Flynn received the ball and only a last ditch save from Holland in diverting the ball for a corner saved Welfare. However, from the corner Liam Schofield beat Holland with a shot that appeared to take a deflection.
As Welfare tried to come back Schofield then foiled them with some excellent defending as he somehow got his foot to a ball heading for the unmarked Keightley.
Holland defied Flynn again with an outstretched leg before Welfare pulled a goal back from the penalty spot on eighty six minutes. After a visiting player handled in the area Adam Hayton slotted home the spot kick.
With virtually the last kick of the game Welfare substitute Horbury had a great chance to earn his side a point but he blazed the ball over the bar .when through on goal.
What They Said
Glasshoughton Welfare joint manager Lee Vigars
“We’re obviously disappointed but there’s no disgrace in that performance against a very good Emley side who will push for automatic promotion this season. We switched off for a second for the opener and a big deflection beat Andy Holland for their winner.
“Andy Horbury had a great chance to win us a point at the end but it wasn’t to be. We’ve now been beaten by the odd goal be Penistone and Emley and this gives us a good idea where we are as a squad. Although the results haven’t gone our way we are pushing the top teams for 90 minutes and could have got something from both games.”
The Teams
Glasshoughton Welfare: Holland, Harrison (Maude), Brearley, Hayton, Dunlop, McManus, Glavin, Akeister, Keightley, Scothern (Horbury), Morley (Cunliffe). Subs unused: Walsh, Marsh.
AFC Emley: MacLachlan, Carney, Schofield, Ingham, Jerome, Brennan (T), Coduri, Joseph, Flynn, Ryan (Jackson), Brennan (J) (Townend). Subs unused: Jordan, Slack, Billington.
Thanks to Garry Mollon for this report.