Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
Handsworth Parramore 2-2 Armthorpe Welfare
Hero Liam Radford (centre) earned Armthorpe a point at Handsworth. Picture: Steve Pennock
Liam Radford scored both goals as Armthorpe Welfare staged a remarkable second half comeback at Handsworth Parramore.
Radford got his name in lights, but the hard earned and well deserved point was as much due to goalkeeper Adam Stevens’ first half display as it was to Radford’s two second half goals.
Handsworth took the game to the Welfare straight from the kick off with Jon Froggatt having the ball in the net inside 30 seconds but his effort was ruled out for offside. Despite this pressure the Welfare had a great chance to take the lead on seven minutes when Radford on the ball on half way and broke away down the left before cutting the ball back to Darren Mansaram whose 18 yard shot was blocked by a defender.
Goalkeeper Stevens made the first of a string of fine saves in the 12th minute when he blocked a shot from Aaron Moxam with his legs and he denied Reece Hands moments later, but he was beaten five minutes later when Simon Harrison played a good ball across goal which caused havoc in the Welfare defence before Froggatt pounced to score from close range.
Stevens saved an angled drive from Danny Buttle on 19 minutes but Handsworth scored again on 20 minutes when a left wing corner was headed in by Hands. The Welfare goal then led a charmed life as shots from Hands and Froggatt were both blocked on the line following another corner.
Connor Smythe was the next Handsworth player to be denied by Stevens on 27 minutes after he had burst clear into the box and Stevens followed that up with another save from Froggatt on the half hour.
A rare Welfare break saw Radford fire well over from the edge of the box before on 37 minutes Stevens denied Simon Harrison who found himself clear in the box following a well-worked move. After all Handsworth’s chances the Welfare could class themselves fortunate to be only two goals behind.
The second half saw the Welfare come out fired up by Carmody’s half time words and they immediately looked more dangerous as well as more able to cope with the home sides’ threat.
This endeavour paid off on 55 minutes when Mansaram played in Radford who rounded Handsworth ‘keeper Archie Sneath to steer the ball into the net from a tight angle.
Two minutes later Radford broke down the right before playing the ball across the box for Tom McLaughlin to see his 18 yard shot charged down by a defender.
More Welfare pressure led to a 63rd minute free-kick finding its way to Radford inside a crowded box with the in-form striker expertly turning to fire past Sneath from eight yards to level the scores.
Parramore came close to retaking the lead on 71 minutes when a cross from their left found Harrison whose first time shot came back off the crossbar and was cleared off the line.
Despite losing McLaughlin through injury on 73 minutes the Welfare restricted Parramore to just a couple of speculative 18 yard shots whilst continuing to look capable of stretching the home defence without creating any more clear chances.
Thanks to Steve Pennock for this report.