Toolstation NCEL Division One
East Yorkshire Carnegie 4-1 Glasshoughton Welfare
Rob Oldham scored for Glasshoughton
“A bad day at the office” was how Glasshoughton Welfare joint manager Lee Vigars began his post match comments after his side fell to an opening day defeat away at East Yorkshire Carnegie.
He was not wrong. This was an abject performance from a side who did so well last season. In fairness, yes they have lost two influential players from last season, but hopes were high after a decent pre-season and with a number of new signings welfare were looking for a good start.
At a very warm Dunswell Stadium welfare saw Mathew Bowman, Jack Knight, and Graycyan Klimczak make their competitive debuts for the club. Josh Morley also came in for his second debut after returning from Thackley.
Opening exchanges were even with Knight failing to get on the end of a Bowman cross and at the other end and welfare keeper Mateus Zaniewski saw a shot from James Webb just clear his crossbar.
Welfare had a good chance to score on eight minutes when home keeper Lewis Hill failed to hold the ball but Andy Horbury hit the side netting from an angle.
The Welfare defence seemed at times at sixes and sevens and after a poor clearance the ball was played back in and Ryan William prodded the ball in to give the home side the lead.
Williams nearly had a second a minute later when his shot was deflected for a corner from which Zaniewski made a great save from a header at his post.
On 28 minutes the home side were two up when the Welfare defence made a hopeless appeal for offside and James Webb was allowed time to run through and shoot past Zaniewski.
It could have been three seconds later as Tom Bennett ran through the defence but shot wide with only Zaniewski to beat.
Welfare got back in the game in first half injury time when substitute Rob Oldham fired a great ball home from the edge of the penalty area and then Knight fired just wide of the post as the half-time whistle blew.
Any hopes that Welfare had of salvaging the game were blown away within five minutes of the second half opening. Firstly Bennett got onto the end of a deep cross from the left and he steered the ball in despite Zaniewski getting a hand to the ball.
A minute later the Welfare defence went missing again as Sam Foster was allowed to shoot high into the net from 25 yards giving Zaniewskii no chance.
At the other end Adam Walsh headed a Ryan Ferguson corner over the bar and Knight shot wide. Welfare substitute Mitch Wilshire, with his first touch was foiled by Hill and Sam Pashley headed a corner just over the bar.
Twelve minutes from the end Danny Walker was upended in the Welfare penalty area by Knight who was sent off. Walker then saw his resultant penalty brilliantly saved by Zaniewski who somehow diverted his fierce penalty onto the crossbar and away.
The Teams
East Yorkshire Carnegie: Hill, Waud (Harrison), Abel, Earl, Winn, Ricardo (Horner), Bennett, Foster, Webb, Walker, Williams. Subs unused: Short, Gordon, Whiting.
Glasshoughton Welfare: Zaniewski, Hullock, Morley (Cunliffe), Hunter, Pashley, Walsh, Bowman (Oldham) Knight, Horbury, Klimczak (Wilshire), Ferguson. Sub unused: Howley.