Welfare’s Poskitt steals headlines again

Toolstation NCEL Division One

Hallam 3-3 Glasshoughton Welfare

Ryan Poskitt stole the headlines again after equalising for Glasshoughton Welfare with a penalty which turned out to be the last kick of the game.

Welfare were under the cosh for a lot of the game, but a much spirited display after the dire midweek Worsbrough game saw them come back from two goals down to deny Hallam, who still picked up a useful point as Knaresborough Town lost at AFC Emley.

On a heavy pitch and playing up the slope, Welfare were lucky not to be a goal down in the first minute when Oliver Beaumont hit wide of the gaping goal from a cross.

On ten minutes Tom Roebuck saw his shot well pushed over the bar by Welfare stopper Jordan Bradshaw. A Horbury clearance then struck a Hallam player and flashed just wide of the Welfare goal.

Hallam took the lead on 19 minutes when the ball was slipped through to the impressive Kieran Watson who turned a defender before firing past Bradshaw.

The home side came again and Bradshaw was quick off his line to foil Scott Bates.

Welfare were defending well and their only chance on goal was a Poskitt cross which was cleared away.

The home side went two up on 35 minutes when a ball was knocked over the Welfare defence. Watson latched onto it and slotted past Bradshaw.

Welfare gained some hope a couple of minutes later when home keeper Jamie Dean flapped at a cross and the loose ball was hit home by Poskitt.

Back came the home side and just before the interval impressive welfare defender Andy McManus saved Welfare with a last ditch tackle to prevent Watson scoring again. Adam Hayton hacked the ball off the line from a corner and Jake Currie fired a shot just wide.

The second half opened with Bradshaw making a good save with his feet and then both Horbury and Poskitt had good chances for Welfare but both scuffed their final shots.

Welfare equalised on 61 minutes when Horbury headed home a lovely chipped ball in from the right provided by Nathan Keightley.

However Hallam came straight back and a corner was headed home by Tom Roebuck two minutes later.

The home side tried to put the game to bed and once again McManus had to be on his toes to foil Watson with a great tackle.

Welfare thought that they had equalised just before the 90th minute when the ball was bundled in but the effort was disallowed for a foul.

Poskitt then hit a shot wide but in the fourth minute of injury time Horbury was fouled in the home penalty area. Poskitt stepped up to hit the penalty past Dean with the final whistle then being blown.

What They Said

Glasshoughton Welfare joint manager Darren Holmes

“Its always a game of two halves at Hallam and today was no different. We rode our luck in the first half but defended very well with some last ditch tackles and a clearance off the line by Adam Hayton.

“Ryan Poskitt again giving us a fighting chance in the second half going in at half time at 2 1 we always  thought we could get something from the game.

“We pressed well in the second half and moved the ball wide very well with Nathan Keightley,  and Josh Morley a constant threat. Andy Horbury worked tirelessly today and got his rewards with an excellent  headed goal to bring us level. We also had a goal disallowed that looked to be a good goal.

“Unfortunately individual errors cost us all three points and again if we could eliminate those errors things could have been a lot better this year.

“Ryan Poskitt again scoring with a last kick of the game penalty made it feel like a win but we were well worth a point today and capped a much improved performance from midweek.”

The Teams

Hallam:  Dean, Beaumont, Bishop (Chapell), Roebuck, Mintoft, Philips, Greaves, Reed, (Mirfin), Currie, Bates (Ord), Watson. Subs unused: Pemberton, Wright.

Glasshoughton Welfare: Bradshaw, Varley (Morley), Brearley, Hayton, Walsh (Scothern) (Akeister),  McManus, Keightley, Glavin, Horbury, Poskitt, Marsh, Subs unused: Cunliffe, Hunter.

Thanks to Garry Mollon for this report.