Toolstation NCEL Division One
Glasshoughton Welfare 0-3 Grimsby Borough
Ryan Ferguson came the closest to scoring for Glasshoughton
Play-offs chasing Glasshoughton Welfare fell to their first defeat in four games after losing to third placed Grimsby Borough at a damp TJs Arena.
Welfare had previously beaten Shirebrook Town and Selby Town in their previous outings, both teams in the top six of the league, however Grimsby proved to be a step too far for them. Second half goals from Arthur Okwonko, Daniel Trott, and a late Luke Mascall penalty was the difference between the sides.
Early exchanges were even although Adam Drury saw his 8 yards shot strike the top of Jacob Collier’s goal.
At the other end Tom Carr saw an effort drift just wide of the far post but as the play swung from end to end both Drury and Josh Venney hit efforts wide for the visitors.
Conor Glavin saw his free kick blocked after Josh Sunter fouled Andy Horbury just outside the penalty area, and then visiting keeper Scott Drury just got his fists in front of Carr’s head to clear the ball.
Just before the break Collier did well to push a Trott effort over his bar.
Grimsby took the lead two minutes after the re-start when a disputed free kick was taken quickly. Venney received the ball on the right and his low cross was prodded home by Okwonko.
The visitors increased their lead on 65 minutes when another ball was played in from their right and Trott struck the ball home from 18 yards.
Despite a header going over the bar Welfare’s only real effort on goal came with a quarter of an hour left when Ryan Ferguson chipped a great effort from the right edge of the area but a couple of retreating defenders managed to clear the ball off the line.
Grimsby wrapped the game up with a minute to play when Rob Oldham was harshly judged to have brought down Jack Bradbury in the penalty area. Indeed it was so harsh that it appeared none of the Grimsby bench nor hardly any player appealed. Mascall tucked the resulting penalty home.