Toolstation NCEL Division One
Nostell Miners Welfare 5-0 Hall Road Rangers
High-flying Nostell Miners Welfare recharged their season with the hammering of Hall Road Rangers at Crofton Community Centre.
The 7-0 loss at title-chasing Brigg Town two weeks ago ended their unbeaten run and knocked them firmly back down to earth.
But Ian Walker’s men returned to winning ways is in brutal fashion – dominating almost from start to finish without having to really break sweat.
Hall Road showed glimpses of maybe gaining a positive result in the opening 15 minutes but once as Joe Kenny scored, the walls caved in for them and the battle was over by half-time.
Nostell were certainly not at their best but the visitors had no answers for Nostell’s superb possession-based style of play which deserves every accolade going as the level of coaching gone into producing it is off-the-scale for the NCEL.
Anees Younis’ low out-swinging free kick on the right wing provided the first goal.
The ball travelled all the way to the back-post where on-loan Liversedge midfielder Kenny pounced.
The roles were reversed when Nostell struck again.
Kenny made the burst forward and ended up being fouled.
The referee waved advantage as the ball ran loose towards Younis who went past goalkeeper Jody Barford before scoring.
Danny Edwards netted his first of the afternoon just as the referee was preparing to blow his whistle for the interval.
Some clever footwork on the edge of the penalty area opened up the chance and Edwards rifled a half-volley into the roof of the net.
That pushed any potential comeback out of Hall Road’s reach and made the second half very pedestrian.
Nostell pushed when they needed to and substitute Joe Wood hit the fourth after cutting in from the right.
To their credit Hall Road never gave up and they kept going to the bitter end – winning the odd corner but truthfully the clean sheet for Nostell was never in doubt.
Nostell rubbed salt in the wounds in the final minute.
Barford mistakenly picked up a back-pass and Edwards slammed in the in-direct free kick after the lay-off to score his second goal.
What They Said
Nostell Miners Welfare manager Ian Walker
“(We) possibly (could have won it by more) but it is a warm day and we had a game on Wednesday and we’ve got a game on Tuesday.
“I was very conscious of controlling the game and we had our captain (Joe O’Neill) and top goal-scorer (Nathan Perks) missing today and we were able to still dominate possession.
“When it is nice and warm like this that’s what you have to do and I thought we did.
“I think we were dominant throughout.
“We set up a bit differently today because of personnel and we tried a few different shapes.
“We were conscious of how easily we were torn apart at Brigg when we didn’t have everything available so we felt we had to come up with solutions.
“I thought it worked quite well and the lads felt comfortable playing the different shape.”
Hall Road Rangers manager Leon Sewell
“It was a disappointing afternoon and it is becoming a bad habit.
“I thought we were alright in the first 15 minutes but it is lapses in concentration and it is a recurring problem.
“It could have been more.
“It didn’t help losing Danny Norton in the first half and Meddy in the early part of the second half.
“We can’t get the ball over-the-line yet it is way too easy for other teams to get the ball over our line.
“Fair play to Nostell, they are a good passing side and they’ll do alright this season.
“Like Rossington they move the ball really well.
“There’s a lot of food for thought and there’ll be changes made for Tuesday (against Shirebrook).
“The pleasing thing is Tuesday comes quick.”
The Teams
Nostell Miners Welfare: Allinson, Ford, Allsop, Smith (Wood 59), Haigh (captain) (Atkinson 75), Walker, Younis (Hughes-Miller 75), Penny-Larter, Hawkhead, Kenny, Edwards. Subs unused: Proctor, Ormsby.
Hall Road Rangers: Barford, Wray (Bennett 68), Whittingham, Piercy, Wheeldon, Knaggs, Parker, Harman (captain), Medcalf (Nyzayadio 50) , Robinson, Norton (Bullement 30). Sub unused: Witnell.
Who Was In Charge
Ben Brighton (6/10)
How Many Were There
76
Man of the Match
Joe Kenny (Nostell Miners Welfare)
