Toolstation NCEL Division One
Glasshoughton Welfare 1-3 Eccleshill United
Marcus Edwards scored twice in Eccleshill’s win at Glasshoughton
Marcus Edwards hit a double as Eccleshill United maintained their great form, keeping their hopes of an FA Cup place well and truly alive.
The game was one of chances taken, and chances not taken, and Glasshoughton fell into the latter category..
The game opened badly for them when they fell behind with only two minutes on the clock. A welfare free-kick was cleared by the visitors defence and after initially being hit back in again it was cleared over the welfare halfway line where Edwards latched onto it and he knocked it past the on rushing Jordan Bradshaw into the net.
Welfare attempted to hit straight back and a Conor Glavin free-kick just cleared the crossbar and then a corner was headed just wide by Olly Maude.
Welfare got the equaliser on 11 minutes when Nathan Keightley was brought down by keeper Mark Bower and Adam Hayton clipped the resulting penalty home.
Eccleshill then had a couple of good chances with Charlie Flaherty lashing well wide and Chris Lever shanking the ball past the post.
Welfare had a great chance for a second goal on 30 minutes when man of the match Andy Horbury was fouled in the penalty area but this time Bower blocked Hayton’s penalty kick. Horbury then caused the keeper to stretch at his post to collect a header.
Just before the break Bower saved with his feet from Keightley but at the other end Matt Mathers headed a corner just wide and Matt Stor volleyed wide.
s the second half opened Andy McManus did well to block Edwards away but three minutes into the half the visitors got their second when a high ball was headed back to Flaherty who fired past Bradshaw from six yards.
Welfare did not give up and a good move saw Maude’s volley well tipped over the bar by Bower. Keightley prodded the ball wide as Bower closed him down and the welfare striker saw an effort brilliantly palmed away by the busy keeper before he launched another effort high over the bar.
Tempers became frayed and referee Gareth Thomas showed a number of players yellow cards including Welfare’s Lewis Akeister who received two within a minute and was subsequently sent off.
The visitors got the clinching goal on 76 minutes when another high ball into the Welfare area could not be cleared and Edwards volleyed home from a yard out.
What They Said
Glasshoughton Welfare joint manager Lee Vigars
“Missed chances again cost us which would have been a very important three points. We played some attractive football in the first 45 minutes and should have been leading at half-time but for Adam’s missed penalty.
“A couple of lapses at the back in the second half coupled with the sending off of Lewis left us with an uphill task. Still lots to play for despite this setback.”
The Teams
Glasshoughton Welfare: Bradshaw, Marsh, Cunliffe, Hayton, Brearley, McManus (Pashley), Keightley, Akeister, Horbury, Maude, Glavin. Subs unused: Horn, Hunter, Varley.
Eccleshill United: Bower, Stor, Bartle, Cooper, Bradley, Mathers, Edwards, Flaherty, Lever, Irving, Harrop (Lebad). Subs unused: Springer, Truelove, Smith.
Thanks to Garry Mollon for this report.