Toolstation NCEL Division One
Glasshoughton Welfare 2-1 Dronfield Town
Aaron Gray popped up with the dramatic last minute winner for Glasshoughton Welfare to deny winless Dronfield Town a precious point.
The victory continues Glasshoughton’s promising start to the campaign.
The match had been fizzling into a draw until Glasshoughton mounted a late charge for the winner.
The ending was harsh on Dronfield who gave everything and were organised and hard to break down.
Chances were limited throughout the contest.
The home side enjoyed the better first half opportunities.
Jamie Simpson broke down the left and bared down on Dronfield goalkeeper Lewis Naylor at one stage.
The stopper reacted well and palmed the ball out for a corner.
Glasshoughton playmaker Reece Sheldon’s spectacular overhead kick then split the Dronfield defence open in the first half.
Lewis Stephens raced onto it and shot straight at Naylor
Dronfield stunned their hosts eight minutes into the second half.
A corner wasn’t properly cleared and Owen Lester shot through a crowd of bodies and found the bottom corner to place his side ahead.
The response from Glasshoughton was rapid.
Clever footwork from Simpson down the left-side of the penalty area opened the door for him to shoot.
The shot cannoned off the post and hit Miguel Cassana on the knee and flew into the net.
Dronfield tired as the game wore on and Glasshoughton sensed blood.
A Nick Lalousis thunderbolt was superbly tipped over as the pressure built.
Simpson then narrowly missed heading Welfare to victory.
But the winner eventually came.
A quickly-taken corner was whipped into the six-yard box by Lalousis.
It was a juicy cross and Gray leapt to send the ball into the net at the far post.
Dronfield actually nearly equalised with the last kick of the game after a goal-bound effort from a comer was cleared off-the-line.
There were big appeals for a penalty but the referee waved them away and Glasshoughton lived to win the three points.
The Teams
Glasshoughton Welfare: Riches, Lalousis, Cuncliffe, Hayton (Tonkinson 90), Walsh (captain), Gray, Simpson, Robinson, Cassana (Bell 73), Sheldon (Nelson 81), Stephens. Subs unused: Mhlolo, Milner.
Dronfield Town: Naylor, Wright, Stewart, Lester, Fairweather, Hill, Chappell, Gladwin, Bebbington, Savage, Bovill.
Who Was In Charge
Abdul Hakimy (7/10)
How Many Were There
91
Man of the Match
Nick Lalousis (Glasshoughton Welfare)