Toolstation NCEL Division One
East Yorkshire Carnegie 0-2 Glasshoughton Welfare
Alex Marsh shows his affectionate side congratulates Conor Glavin after scoring his second goal for Glasshoughton in the win at East Yorkshire Carnegie. Picture: Garry Mollon
Conor Glavin scored twice as Glasshoughton Welfare kept their hopes of winning a play-offs place alive with a dominant performance on Humberside when defeating East Yorkshire Carnegie at a cold Dene Park.
Welfare remain in 8th place in the league after nearest rivals Selby Town and Shirebrook Town also won their games.
A first half Glavin penalty, and his header with 15 minutes from the end saw Welfare home.
Welfare may look back on the game as a missed opportunity to increase their goals-difference, having wasted mountains of chances from start to finish.
Welfare made four changes from the side defeated in the midweek cup game at Parkgate with Alex Marsh, James Kay, Jamie Simpson and Mitch Wilshire coming back into the starting eleven.
The visitors could have blown their deep-playing hosts away inside the opening ten minutes. That’s makes it remarkable that it took nearly half-an-hour to break the deadlock.
Welfare were on top from the start and Wilshire should have done better when home keeper Lewis Hill saved his effort with his legs. Glavin dragged a shot wide when well placed and Tom Carr saw a shot which deceived the keeper but was cleared at the far post.
Simpson, who worked hard all of the game was unlucky when his header from a corner struck the post. From the rebound, the same player saw a shot blocked again by the legs of Hill.
The home side were hardly in the game, although Matty Littlefield hit an effort wide of Mat Zaniewski’s goal.
Welfare took the lead on 26 minutes when Ryan Ferguson was fouled in the penalty area and Glavin stepped up to send Hill the wrong way with his spot kick.
Hill then brought off a great save when palming a Lewis Akeister 35 yard shot – which was heading for the top corner because of its supreme pinpoint accuracy – over the crossbar and the goalkeeper then foiled the busy Simpson again with his legs.
Welfare were again on the attack as the second half opened and a header from a corner drifted just wide. However the home side seemed stronger and a shot went just wide of the near post.
Jamie Simpson in battle against Carnegie player/manager Jonny Ricardo
Simpson leaps his absent mentor Adam Walsh would. Unfortunately his header hit the post
Tom Carr laughs as he goes head-to-head with an opponent
Glavin prepares to take his penalty
Mitch Wilshire congratulates Glavin
Jamie Simpson chases down a defender
Wilshire on the attack for Glasshoughton
Ryan Ferguson is pulled to the floor
Wilshire has his hands in his head after Glavin goes close
Glavin heads home Glasshoughton’s second goal
Alex Marsh punches the air
Tom Carr reacts after another save goes begging
Lewis Akeister in battle
Glavin scored a third goal, but that was ruled out for offside
It was only a brief scare as Welfare continued to create chances and only last ditch defending and blocks stopped the visitors from increasing their lead until the 75th minute when Glavin glanced a header home from Marsh’s fine cross.
Carnegie then went straight to the other end and Zaniewski had to make a smart save.
Welfare substitute Connor Rollinson saw a shot blocked and Hill somehow managed to block the Carr follow up before also pushing a Wilshire shot for a corner.
In the last seconds Tom Hullock, on for Carr, saw his very audacious 30 yard effort palmed onto the crossbar by the overworked Hill.
A good point to report from the game was the standard of officiating by Ryan Lowe and his assistants. It was good to see the referee talking to players without brandishing any cards at all throughout the game.
What They Said
Glasshoughton Welfare joint manager Darren Holmes
Glasshoughton joint manager Darren Holmes
“Very pleasing to totally dominate the game today from start to finish. With a few players struggling with injuries again we used the squad and it was pleasing to see the likes of Lewis Akeister, and Sam Varley both returning from injury.
“Again the only down side was we didn’t kill the game earlier. We could have gone in at half time with a very comfortable margin but Carnegie kept battling and throwing bodies at the ball in last ditch challenges to keep them in the game.
“The second half went the same with a number of missed chances and we could have finished the game with a very commanding victory.
“All in all we are very pleased with the three points and look forward to next week’s home game.”
The Teams
East Yorkshire Carnegie: Hill, Smith, Bajong, Foster, Giblin, Ricardo, O’Connell. Harrison, Walker, Denby, Littlefield. Subs: Ward, Sarel, Kashilengo, Whiting, Hill.
Glasshoughton Welfare: Zaniewski, Marsh, Kay, Glavin, Pashley, Varley, Ferguson (Rollinson), Akeister, Carr (Hullock) Simpson (Horn), Wilshire.
Thanks to Garry Mollon for the words and pictures.