Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
Armthorpe Welfare 3-1 Barton Town Old Boys
Darren Mansaram in action for Armthorpe during the 3-1 win over Rainworth. Picture: Steve Pennock
Mike Carmody finally guided struggling Armthorpe Welfare to their first victory of the season.
A second minute header from Craig Morley and two second half goals from Darren Mansaram saw Welfare ease to victory.
Barton’s consolation came from Jonathan O’Callaghan in second half stoppage time.
Welfare got off to the best possible start when in the second minute they were awarded a free-kick on the right wing. Tom McLaughlin sent over an inviting ball into the box where Morley and Mansaram rose to meet the ball with the former appearing to get the decisive contact to send the ball curling into the top right hand corner.
Four minutes later Mansaram rose to meet a high bouncing ball inside the box just before Barton ‘keeper Patrick Weaver but the ball ran inches wide of the right hand post.
Welfare were well on top and went close again with Craig Aspinall shooting just wide from the edge of the box and Stuart Preston seeing his shot from similar range fly straight at Weaver.
Weaver was quickly off his line to block at the feet of Preston on 17 minutes whilst Welfare ‘keeper Will Biggs was called upon to make his first real save on 29 minutes when he pushed away a low 20 yard shot from Chris Fairhurst.
The visitors started to look more threatening and Angus Richardson saw his shot deflected just wide on 43 minutes with Biggs wrong-footed.
On the stroke of half time Welfare came close to extending their lead when substitute Danny Bulman volleyed just over the bar from the edge of the box following a half cleared corner. Bulman had replaced Josh Brigham 7 minutes earlier.
The second half saw Welfare continue where they left off in the first half with Aspinall having a 25 yard shot fly straight at Weaver on 54 minutes.
Preston was replaced by Josh Gibbons on 65 minutes and within a minute Welfare had doubled their lead when a free-kick out on the left wing was brilliantly headed just inside the near post by Mansaram giving Weaver no chance.
Jack Waldron had a hooked shot cleared off the ;line on 75 minutes following a corner before Manasaram scored his second and Welfare’s third goal on 80 minutes, getting the better of Weaver on the edge of the box before finding the net from a tight angle.
Barton didn’t give up and scored a consolation goal 2 minutes into stoppage time when Jonathan O’Callaghan curled an expertly taken 25 yard free-kick into the top left hand corner.
The Team
Armthorpe Welfare: Biggs, Hancock, Waldron, Collins, Garner, Morley, Preston (Gibbons 65), Aspinall, Mansaram (Yousefi 81), Brigham (Bulman 38), McLaughlin. Subs unused: Bonser, Collier.
Who Was In Charge
David Hunt
The Mansfield-based official was the man with the whistle.
Thanks to Steve Pennock for this report