Glasshoughton Welfare 1-4 Coventry United
Eighteen-year-old Glasshoughton Welfare goalkeeper Kieran Hartley
Glasshoughton Welfare were swept aside by well-built Midland League big boys Coventry United at the TJs Arena.
Welfare were missing a number of players for various reasons for the game, but in an entertaining encounter they gave a spirited performance despite the 4-1 score line against their higher league opponents.
Welfare were under the cosh early on and a free kick from visitors man of the match Craig Reid sailed just over the bar.
Welfare had 18-year-old goalkeeper Kieran Hartley making his first appearance and he showed great agility to tip away a strong drive from Lewis Rankin and shortly after he did well to palm a header away.
Welfare came close on 25 minutes when a 25 yard Conor Glavin drive was parried away by visiting keeper Ash Malhotra.
Coventry took the lead on 35 minutes when a poor clearance from Hartley found Lewis Rankine and he lobbed the ball into the net from 18 yards.
Young Hartley redeemed himself minutes later when he pushed a goal bound effort over his cross bar. Josh Bucknell then did well to block away a goal bound effort and just before half time Hartley came to his sides rescue again tipping a Reid downward volley over the bar.
Welfare were under pressure on the start of the second half. Rankin shot just wide of the far post and Kyle Barnett saw his towering header go over the bar.
On 60 minutes Welfare conceded two goals within a minute. Firstly Reid broke down the right and cut in before hammering a shot into the far corner of the net.
Within a minute he had a second when a ball was played in from the Welfare right and Reid prodded past Hartley.
Welfare got a goal back on 67 minutes when a Josh Morley free kick fell to Andy Horbury who turned and fired past Malhotra.
As the game entered its final stages Hartley pushed a shot from Dominic Areaney onto a post and then made a good low save.
Seconds before the end a long ball caught the Welfare defence out and Rankin latched onto it before knocking it past Hartley.
Thanks to Garry Mollon for this report.