Toolstation NCEL Division One
AFC Emley 0-2 Glasshoughton Welfare
Glasshoughton goalkeeper Mateusz Zaniewski in action during the 2-0 win at AFC Emley. Picture: Mark Parsons
Goals in both halves sent Glasshoughton Welfare up to sixth after a fine away victory at AFC Emley.
Matthew Semley and Gracyan Klimczak scored the goals, but Welfare missed a host of second half chances that should have made the game safer against a home side who played good attacking football.
In the absence of Darren Holmes and Lee Vigars, coach Richard Tracey, former long-serving boss of Ossett Albion, took charge of the side against an Emley side who included former Welfare player Andy Horbury after he sought pastures new in midweek.
In the early stages Welfare were on top with Semley seeing a header blocked and Klimczak mis-kicking the loose ball. Semley also hit a shot inches wide. Welfare captain Gareth Hunter then put in a great cross that Lewis Pickering could not quite get his head to.
At the other end the Welfare defence came under increasing pressure and Horbury could not get his head to a crossed ball. He then shot over the bar when well placed and he would then go onto miss a great headed chance at the far post.
Klimczak had a great chance beating two players on the edge of the area but his final shot was poor and wide.
Welfare were then indebted to goalkeeper Mateusz Zaniewski who, although unsighted, managed to tip a Jordan Townend free kick round his post.
From the resultant corner welfare broke quickly and the ball reached Klimczak on the left and his chipped pass was headed past Adam Ledger by Semley.
Welfare then came under pressure again with a Michael Tunnacliffe corner flashing just past the far post and then Ben Burnett latched onto a fumbled Zaniewski ball but with the goal gaping the ball was taken off his toes.
As the first half drew to a close the home side were lucky when a hurried Ledger clearance struck Jack Knight but bounced just wide of goal.
The second half opened with Sam Pashley doing well to block a cross for a corner and then the game became feisty. The game was threatening to boil over and Walsh tangled with Nathan Howe resulting in a caution for Howe who, much to howls of protests from the home supporters. was then shown a red card for comments made to referee Peter Creagh.
The home side were putting the Welfare defence under even more pressure and a strong drive was blocked before Townend drove a shot wide from the edge of the six-yard area.
Welfare got their second on 64 minutes with a great flowing move down the pitch ending with Klimczak cutting in from the right and firing in from a tight angle.
In the closing stages Welfare had chances to really put the game to bed. Ryan Ferguson put Semley in but he fired over the bar and then Seb Sokol, only on for seconds, raced through one on one with Ledger and he will have nightmares thinking how he managed to fire over the bar even after rounding the goalkeeper.
A further two chances were missed with Klimczak through on goal only to dither and allow James Stafford to get a tackle in and then, Connor Howley seemed certain to score but he saw his weak shot blocked.
What They Said
Glasshoughton Welfare coach Richard Tracey
“Delighted to win today in a difficult game against Emley. They kept the ball really well but we kept our shape and looked a real threat on the counter attack. Both goals were excellent breaks with Klimczak crossing for Semley to head home and then Klimczak fired home for the second at the near post. For all of Emley’s possession they only drew Mat Zaniewski into one save from a free kick early on and I am happy seeing us moving up to sixth in the table.”
The Teams
AFC Emley: Ledger, Stocker, Starkey, Tunnacliffe, Stafford, Jerome, Hamilton (Howe), Ingham, Horbury, Townend, Burnett (Mills). Subs: Hughes, Kemp, Whittaker.
Glasshoughton Welfare: Zaniewski, Horn, Cunliffe, Hunter, Walsh, Pashley, Semley (Howley), Brown, Klimczak, Knight (Sokol), Pickering (Ferguson).
Thanks to Garry Mollon for this report.