Toolstation NCEL Division One
Glasshoughton Welfare 2-0 Eccleshill United
Andy Horbury pounced like a lion on its lunch ‘brek’ to score the opener for Glasshoughton
Outstanding Glasshoughton Welfare dug deep to strengthen their bid for the play-offs by out-smarting fallen leaders Eccleshill United, whose ten-match winning run came to an end.
Welfare still have a lot to do to get near the top six, but a fourth straight league win steers them further in the right direction. Eccleshill drop to second place after Knaresborough won at Nostell.
The Showman Ryan Poskitt, living up to his beloved nickname, put the cherry on the cake in the fourth minute of added time with an unbelievable 40-yard strike.
But he wasn’t the star attraction on this occasion. The whole Glasshoughton team deserve huge credit for their hard work in a victory that was really won by Andy Horbury’s tap-in.
It was not the finest game, on a very heavy pitch, but it certainly had tension and the crowd were definitely gripped.
Eccleshill, who battered Ollerton Town in midweek, were clearly not on top form. It was an off-day for them. Eccleshill defeated Welfare back in August with two goals from counter attacks. The Eagles showed early on how capable they are of devastating teams that way.
Danger man and midweek hat-trick hero Luke Harrop led a couple of charges and created a couple of half-chances, but in truth they never penetrated Welfare’s solid back-line until it was too late. Welfare goalkeeper Matuesz Zaniewski was never truly tested.
Glasshoughton had threatened before the opener, which ultimately Eccleshill will know should have been adverted. Right-back Alex Marsh, whose performances are getting better and better each week, produced a fabulous in-swinging delivery for the corner from which Welfare gained the lead. Admittedly goalkeeper Dom Smith should have caught it easily, it was still a fine delivery. Smith dropped the ball and Horbury pounced like a zoo lion ready for its lunch ‘brek’ – as they would say in South Yorkshire.
The usually reliable leaping legend Adam Walsh then wasted an easy chance by heading wide.
The final throes of the first half were dominated by a shambles of a performance from referee Wayne Perrin – a display that frustrated Eccleshill more than the home side. Not once did he attempt to engage properly with the 22 players. The first foul of the game warranted a yellow card, when quiet word with the offender would have been sufficient. He never asked the captains over to help out either. It was clear that the only person he was bothered about was the assessor.
It all came to a head as the teams entered the tunnel at half-time as Mr Perrin chose to dismiss Eccleshill’s assistant manager Des Hamilton, the former Bradford City midfielder, for next to nothing.
Hamilton made a fair and non-confrontational observational comment to assistant referee Natasha Wilson about the decision to caution Chris Lever. Mr Perrin then sprinted after Hamilton and caught up with him by the visitors’ dressing room door and told him that he was being sent off. If the official does send in a report about the ‘incident’, the relevant County FA should chuck it straight in the bin as dealing with it will be a complete waste of time and resources.
Chances were few and far between in the second half. Glasshoughton did leave on the edge at one point as they did drop far too deep – allowing Eccleshill to gain ground.
The real drama was saved for third and fourth minute of added-time as Eccleshill almost equalised and then ended up conceding a second goal.
The home side were literally pressed onto their goal-line as Eccleshill threw the kitchen sink. The ball looked destined for the net as it dropped to captain Sam Bradley in the six-yard-box. Fortunately for Glasshoughton, Walsh, who couldn’t even get in the Welfare side when the two teams met in August, threw himself at the ball to block the shot, enabling his team-mates to clear the danger and launch a counter-attack. That’s where Horbury takes up the story. He was set clear and had the legs to steer clear of Eccleshill’s last defender. Bearing down on Smith, he got his shot away, but the former Garforth Town goalkeeper saved it with his legs.
It dropped to the Showman, who else? An exquisite piece of skill, worthy of a Soccer AM appearance, took him past a defender. Now most players would have fired the ball out to the nearest corner to wind the clock down. Not the Showman, who had come on as a 79th minute substitute. He had the confidence to ping a very audacious effort from 40 yards into Smith’s top right-hand corner – a moment of sheer magic.
The Showman had the last word, but the whole Glasshoughton team, plus substitutes, take the plaudits for outwitting Eccleshill.
The Teams
Glasshoughton Welfare: Zaniewski, Marsh, Cuncliffe (Horn 58), Hunter, McManus (captain), Walsh, Ferguson (Rollinson 72), Akeister, Horbury, Glavin (Poskitt 79), Wilshire.
Eccleshill United: Smith, Stor, Manning, Hudson, Bradley (captain), Springer, Harrop, Flaherty, Brown, Brown, Lever (Maturine HT), Irvine. Subs unused: Pownall, Labad, Storey, Mathers.
Who Was In Charge
Wayne Perrin (5/10)
Mr Perrin was lucky to cling onto a 5/10 mark. His shocking handling of the end of the first half and then Hamilton’s completely ridiculous red card cemented his low mark. He was lucky his mark did not tumble down one more notch at the end after terribly handling an incident involving Eccleshill left-back Scott Manning. A 4/10 mark would have seen him join an exclusive club that only contains three others from almost five years of reports on Non League Yorkshire.
How Many Were There
65
Man of the Match
Gaz Hunter (Glasshoughton Welfare)
Gaz Hunter clearly eats well and keeps himself hit as he is consistently one of Glasshoughton’s best players
Andy McManus was a close second, but under-rated Hunter edges it with another statesman-like display. He is Mr calmness personified in the middle of the park. As the end neared, Hunter played a massive role in ensuring his side held on.