Toolstation NCEL Division One
Glasshoughton Welfare 2-3 Campion
Jay Davis (right) in action for Garforth Town in 2014
A youthful Campion side revived their own play-offs hopes by denting Glasshoughton Welfare’s.
Campion, who had six under 21s players in their starting eleven and heavy-duty signing Devonte Morton on the bench, fully deserved their victory.
Jarhro Parchment, Mark Ferguson and substitute Jay Davis got the goals for the visitors. Former Garforth Town attacker Davis, a player capable of scoring from the halfway line, hit the pick of them with a moment of magic.
Andy Horbury and Adam Walsh pulled Glasshoughton back into it at different points, but an equaliser would have been very harsh on Campion.
The defeat is not the end of the world for Glasshoughton’s play-offs aspirations as they have the points in the bag, but those involved with Hallam and Christian Fox’s Selby Town swashbucklers will wake up this morning shouting ‘I believe’.
Welfare joint managers Darren Holmes and Lee Vigars need to decide who is bringing the Chumbawamba CD to training. Their side need to bounce back straightaway and based on this performance alone, they are not play-offs material. If they want to finish in the top six then they need to re-capture the kind of the displays that saw them defeat the likes of Selby, Shirebrook Town, Eccleshill United and Hallam in the past few months.
Ground-staff had somehow got the pitch playable, despite the recent weather, and unfortunately they were not rewarded. With distinguished guests Premier League referee Bobby Madley and Glasshoughton legend and Showman Ryan Poskitt watching on, Glasshoughton never got going.
Campion goalkeeper Kyle Trenerry was rarely threatened until it was too late. Campion, on the other hand, hit the post and crossbar, whilst also forcing several saves out of Welfare goalkeeper Mateus Zaniewski.
The visitors capitalised on a mistake from Alex Marsh for the opener on the half-hour mark. Ferguson crossed and youngster Parchment slotted home from close range.
Tom Carr wasted Glasshoughton’s first real chance straight after the interval after putting a free header wide.
It came back to bite as Ferguson was quicker to the ball than Marsh on the right, and the striker pushed forward with it at his feet before curling it into the net from just inside the penalty area.
The home side threw Ryan Ferguson on and went for broke and initially it worked. Thanks to a massive deflection, Horbury’s low drive brought hope and belief.
Campion manager James Bicknell was very clever with his response. On came Morton and Davis and the pair eased any nerves the visitors had. Davis, in particular, was brilliant. Calm and composed on the ball, Davis also sent the ball into the right areas, stifling a Welfare comeback. He looked to have killed the contest when he bent an out of this world stunner into the stanchion with five minutes to go.
It was over until the third minute of six added minutes. Out of nothing, Welfare won a corner and from it, Carr flicked on and Walsh leapt like a salmon to head the ball across the line.
Hope had returned, but with man of the match and captain Graham Hall, Morton and Davis pulling the strings, Campion deservedly held on.
The Teams
Glasshoughton Welfare: Zaniewski, Marsh, Kay (Horn 88), Akeister (captain), Pashley, Walsh, Rollinson (Ferguson 66), Hunter, Horbury, Carr, Wilshire. Subs unused: Glavin, Collier.
Campion: Trenerry, Stocker, Carney, Boyd, Hall (captain), Eastwood, Britton, Day, Ferguson (Morton 73), Cunningham (Edden 70), Parchment (Davis 73). Sub unused: Hurles-Brook.
Who Was In Charge
Callum Gough (10/10)
How Many Were There
78