New Glasshoughton Welfare joint managers Craig Wilkinson and Simon Houghton watch their side
Unlikely hero Nathan Keightley scored the 97th minute equaliser which salvaged a point for new Glasshoughton Welfare bosses Simon Houghton and Craig Wilkinson in the dramatic 3-3 draw with Yorkshire Amateur.
The new era at Leeds Road began in unbelievable fashion for the double act as Welfare actually led 2-0 at the interval. That lead was gone by the hour mark as the Ammers hit three goals in five minutes to go in front.
Both sides were then reduced to ten men as Glasshoughton’s Ashley Scothern and Ammers’ Jasiah Donaldson were dismissed in separate incidents.
All hope looked lost for Welfare until under 19s player and late substitute Keightley provided divine intervention by scoring his first senior goal in the dying seconds.
Defeat would have been harsh on Glasshoughton as Houghton and Wilkinson managed to instill a work ethic into to the struggling Toolstation NCEL Division One side at the first attempt.
The new signings – Gaz Hunter, Connor Rollinson and Michael Brearley – made a huge difference and for 45 minutes, the Ammers had no answer to Glasshoughton’s attacks.
Welfare had been knocking on the door for a long period when captain Jimmy Williams headed home at the back-post in the 18th minute.
One soon turned into two as Blaine Kellett’s superb cross from just inside the Ammers half was met by the head of lively winger Alex Romaniw.
Adam Shaw looks to set an attack up for Yorkshire Amateur
Chris Hitchings deals with Glasshoughton midfielder Josh Morley
Glasshoughton Welfare captain Jimmy Williams gave his side the lead
Williams heads past Ammers goalkeeper Chris Barrow
Glasshoughton striker Ashley Scothern was sent off late in the game
Both sides had notable missed chances at key times. Scothern went through straight after the interval and was denied by the visitors’ new goalkeeper Chris Barrow.
That would have made it 3-0 and Welfare would have taken some stopping. However, the chance was wasted and the Ammers forced their way back as the wind and Craig Heard enabled Harrison Blakey to have a simple tap-in.
Although the scores were level within 90 seconds, Scothern did break the offside again for Glasshoughton. Instead of scoring, the former Leigh RMI striker was cautioned for diving. The lost chance and the yellow card would come back to haunt Welfare.
The free kick was launched upfield by Barrow and the wind took the ball towards the Welfare penalty area. A foot race developed between half-time substitute Donaldson and the home defence. Donaldson won it by volleying past Jordan Watson from the edge of the penalty area.
Glasshoughton players let their heads drop as captain Tom Rose danced his way round several Welfare defenders after starting a run on the left-wing. The midfielder almost reached the six-yard box when he fired a low shot past Watson.
Donaldson was the first player to make an early exit. Although his first caution was really harsh, referee Daniel Bennett had no choice to show a second yellow card to Donaldson for his lunge on Brearley.
The red card didn’t help Glasshoughton as Scothern was shown his second yellow card for a tackle soon after.
The home side’s main problem going into the final stages was that they were struggling test the Ammers back four. Apart from the early second half chances, Barrow had been a mere spectator.
Ultimately the referee’s timekeeping and their own work ethic conjured up the dramatic finish.
The Ammers defence struggled to deal with crosses all afternoon and it was a cross that provided Glasshoughton’s salvation. The cross from the right whizzed past Barrow and Keightley was able to force the ball into the net.
The play-offs chasing Ammers will be the more disappointed of the teams because of the lateness of the equaliser.
Glasshoughton can be pleased and their aim now is to use the draw as a springboard for the next few fixtures.
Glasshoughton Welfare joint manager Craig Wilkinson: “We left it a bit late. Me and Simon looked at each other and thought the chance had gone.
“You can’t fault the effort from the lads. They stuck the game-plan and I’ll buy them all a drink.
“In the first half they set up as we asked with two banks of four and did really well. There was 100% effort which we demand.
“The wind played a factor in the second half as it really picked up, but you can’t knock the lads’ effort to get the last minute goal.
“The disappointing thing for me is that two of the goals were straight down the middle and we could have dealt with them much better.
“But you have to focus on the positives.
“We have stopped the rot after four defeats and drawn 3-3 a-piece against a side pushing for the play-offs so we have to be happy with that.”
Yorkshire Amateur joint manager Phil Harding: “The finish was disappointing. At 2-0 down we would probably taken a 3-3 draw, but to concede in the 97th minute was disappointing.
“We give the players credit for getting back into the game, but conceding with the last kick of the game with ten seconds left isn’t good enough.
“In the first half with the first two goals we weren’t at the races in any sense of the word. We weren’t up for it. Every 50/50 was theirs, every second ball was theirs.
“They wanted it more than us so that’s why we made the changes at half-time and they made a big difference.
“Although they didn’t look like scoring in the second half, Glasshoughton could have scored three or four in the first half, let’s be fair.
“I think it was a fair result, but I’m disappointed.”
Glasshoughton Welfare: Watson, Kellett (Keightley 84), Brearley, Williams (captain), Cusworth, Hunter, Rollinson (Horton 90), Morley, Scothern, Durham, Romaniw. Subs unused: Walsh, Darbyshire, Myers.
Yorkshire Amateur: Barrow, Wadsworth, Rothel (Donaldson HT), T Rose (captain), Hitchings, Thompson (Hammond 74), Carl Heard, Blakey, Hughes (Wood HT), Craig Heard, Shaw. Subs unused: Hull, D Rose.
Referee: Daniel Bennett
Ref Rating: 8/10 (Consistent in his decision making)
Attendance: 65
Man of the match: Gaz Hunter (Glasshoughton Welfare)