Toolstation NCEL Division One
Glasshoughton Welfare 2-2 AFC Emley
Jamie Simpson was the hero for Glasshoughton
Debutant Jamie Simpson scored an injury-time equaliser to ensure Glasshoughton Welfare remain unbeaten in six games.
Glasshoughton won a deserved point after twice falling behind to AFC Emley at the TJs Arena.
Jordan Townend opened the scoring for the visitors just before halftime and though Andy Horbury equalised for Welfare in the second half,. It looked as though Welfare would be beaten when late substitute Josimar Bradshaw scored in the 89th minute. However new signing Simpson, a prolific local league goal-scorer came to the rescue with an injury time equaliser
Welfare had to make changes for the game with Ryan Poskitt and Andrew McManus having moving in recent weeks to pastures new. Goalkeeper Mateuz Zaniewski and Gareth Hunter were unavailable so Sam Eyles was in goal, Rob Oldham made a welcome return and Sam Pashley made a second debut for the club.
Young Eyles had a nervous start dropping a high ball in the first minute, but recovered well and at the other end Oldham saw a free kick held by visiting keeper George Clark.
Clark made a great save from a vicious 30 yards Oldham free kick palming the effort over the bar. Horbury looked certain to score with a headed chance from a Lewisi Akeister cross and there was a debate as to whether Clark had fouled the Welfare player in the challenge for the ball.
Eyles was forced into two decent saves but the visitors took the lead on 40 minutes. Welfare had attacked and Ryan Ferguson was through on goal for the home side. His scuffed shot was cleared away and within seconds the ball was at the feet of Townend at the other end and he beat Eyles with a low shot via the inside of his post. This was the first goal conceded by Welfare in 400 minutes of football
Welfare opened the second half strongly. Conor Glavin saw a shot go just wide of the far post and welfare then had two good penalty shouts waved away when Ferguson appeared to be brought down in the penalty area and then another chance appeared to strike the hand of a defender. Mitch Wilshire then chipped the onrushing Clark but the loose ball was cleared by James Stafford.
Welfare equalised on 76 minutes when, after great persistence on the edge of the penalty area Horbury shot and Clark could only fumble the ball into his net.
At the other end Eyles made a save with his feet deflecting the ball for a corner but then a mis-kick from Alex Marsh saw the ball eventually reach Bradshaw who drilled home on 89 minutes.
In injury time Marsh made amends with a great free kick which was knocked to the far post where Glavin headed over to substitute Simpson who dived to head home.
What They Said
Glasshoughton Welfare joint manager Darren Holmes
“Today was a game we totally dominated and created some fantastic chances. We pushed Emley back and they rarely troubled our back four who looked solid for large parts of the game.
“Unfortunately after creating a gilt-edge chance at one end that we should have done better with and scored we got stretched and Emley scored with possibly their only real chance of the half.
“The second half we again pushed forward and played some excellent football and got our rewards with a strike from Andy Horbury who again deserved his goal .We spoke at half time of not making any errors and we would go on to win the game.
“Again unfortunately a long ball could have been defended better and another rare Emley chance was converted .It would have been a travesty to not get anything from this game as we totally deserved all three points and the lively Jamie Simpson on his debut scored to give us a point when it should have been so much more.
“We look forward to the return game next week and hope we can be more clinical in front of goal.”
The Teams
Glasshoughton Welfare: Eyles, Marsh, Oldham, Akeister, Pashley, Walsh, Rollinson, Glavin, Horbury, Ferguson (Simpson), Wilshire (Horn). Sub unused: Cunliffe.
AFC Emley: Clark, Andre, Thomas, Allison, Stafford, Porter, Dickinson (Bradshaw), Joseph, Roberts (Waller), Townend, Bullivant. Sub Unused: Starkey.
Who Was In Charge
Steve Beresford
How Many Were There
114
Glasshoughton man of the match
Connor Rollinson
Connor Rollinson was voted as Glasshoughton’s man of the match
Thanks to Garry Mollon for this report.