Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
Armthorpe Welfare 1-6 Hemsworth Miners Welfare
Richard Collier (right) scored four times for Hemsworth. Picture: Steve Pennock
Wing wizard Richard Collier hit four as rampant Hemsworth Miners Welfare ran out clear winners in the second game of the final day of the 2017 NCEL Easter GroundHop.
Nash Connolly and Bill Law scored Hemsworth’s other goals with veteran Reuben Pearse scoring a consolation for already relegated Armthorpe on 88 minutes.
Connolly opened the scoring after just four minutes, drilling a low angled shot inside the far post after getting goal-side of Danny Taylor on the right of the box.
Welfare went close on ten minutes but Sam Leigh diverted Jason Kearsley’s low angled shot from 12 yards past the near post.
Hemsworth’s Nick Guest headed wide when well placed in front of goal on 18 minutes but Welfare should have equalised on 22 minutes when Liam Radford turned his marker brilliantly 25 yards out before breaking clear but Leigh came out and blocked his shot well.
Liam Copley got down smartly to block an angled effort from Collier three minutes later whilst Welfare’s Gary Collier was sent clear immediately afterwards but, like Radford, he was brilliantly denied by Leigh.
Hemsworth doubled their lead on 31 minutes when good work down the right by Connolly saw his cut into the box and pull the ball back to Law who shot past Copley. Two minutes later it was 3-0 as Collier’s right wing corner sailed directly inside the far post with assistance from the strong breeze.
Brad Johnston replaced Craig Aspinall for Welfare at half time but the game continued to flow Hemsworth’s way. Collier made it 4-0 on 62 minutes, controlling well before turning and firing a low shot which Copley could only help into his bottom right hand corner.
Having made all three substitutions Welfare were forced to play the last 15 minutes with ten men as Ben Chapman left the field injured just five minutes after coming on.
On 82 minutes Collier completed his hat-trick, curling an 18 yard shot just under the bar before Welfare finally got on the scoresheet on 88 minutes. Pearse won the ball well and played in Gary Collier who’s shot was blocked by Leigh but the ball ran kindly for Pearse to tap in from 6 yards.
As the clock ticked over the 90 minutes Hemsworth poured forward again and Collier added his fourth and Hemsworth’s 6th goal of the afternoon to complete a miserable afternoon for Armthorpe.
The Teams
Armthorpe Welfare: Copley, Collins, Taylor, Walker, Gibbons, Waldron, Bonser (Pearse 73), Aspinall (Johnston 45), Radford (Chapman 70), Collier, Kearsley. Subs unused: Mansaram, Gowen.
Hemsworth Miners Welfare: Leigh, Hayward, Clark, Wilson (Tonks 72), Danville (Viggars 72), Steers, Connolly, Tiani, Law, Guest (Smith 65), Collier.
Thanks to Steve Pennock for this report.