Action from Brighouse Town 3-2 Nostell Miners Welfare
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Words and pictures by James Grayson (@jamesAgrayson, @NonLeagueNorth)
Darren Holmes hopes Nostell Miners Welfare’s performance in the 3-2 defeat to 2014 Toolstation NCEL Premier Division champions Brighouse Town leaves them in good stead for Saturday’s season opening game.
Despite creating some good opportunities, Nostell found themselves 3-0 down at half-time after their former striker Ernest Boafo had scored twice and played a part in Tom Matthews’ strike.
Nostell, who kick off the campaign at Maltby Main, could have easily folded, but the visitors worked hard and goals from Mitch Pearson and Ryan Hallsworth reduced the deficit.
Holmes told Non League Yorkshire: “Other than the result, I think it went really well.
“We have just had a chat in there. We knocked the ball about really well in the first half and kept it well.
“The lads are looking reasonably fit and if it hadn’t been for the two or three individual errors in the first half, I think we should have been ahead.
“I think we had three good chances in the first 20 minutes and we should have finished at least two of them.
“I’m really pleased. It would have been nice to win, we came back in the second half and scored two against a side that won our league last year so I’m pleased.
“We have had four pre-season friendlies culminating in this one which was always going to be our toughest and that’s how we planned it.
“We played really well and looking ahead to Saturday I’m chuffed because there’s real competition for places.”
Nostell Miners Welfare manager Darren Holmes was “very pleased” with his side’s showing in the 3-2 defeat at Brighouse Town
Nostell’s preparation for the new season is in sharp contrast to last year’s. Nostell’s dreadful showing in their own pre-season tournament set the tone for the first month which ended with the departure of Alan Colquhoun.
Holmes and Gareth Hamlet arrived and the pair pulled off the great escape.
The duo and new coach Alan Semley have assembled, on a limited budget, a work-harding squad who like to pass the ball around and in the early stages, Nostell were on top against their Evo Stik League opponents.
Striker Matthew Johnson should have scored after pulling away from the Brighouse defence and Will Biskin rattled the crossbar with a free kick.
But, Nostell soon succumbed to Brighouse – a team who are going to do very well for a newly-promoted side in the Division One North.
Fielding most of their stars in the first half, Brighouse’s movement and ideas were fantastic. From back to front, Brighouse were excellent.
The powerful front line – missing Daniel Nadiole – were clinical. Ryan Hall, Leon Henry, Matthews and Boafo are a force to be reckoned with against anyone.
Brighouse Town striker Tom Matthews held off three Nostell Miners Welfare defenders before scoring the first goal
Matthews’ all-round ability showed in the opening goal. He held off three defenders before turning and hitting a powerful strike past a helpless Ben Saynor in the Nostell goal.
Poor defending from a Chris Fisher allowed Boafo to get the final touch for goal number two.
More careless errors opened the door for the third close to half-time. A poor clearance handed the ball back to Hall and the electric winger sent a low cross towards the middle of the six-yard box which allowed Boafo to tap home.
Nostell were potentially staring down the barrel of a heavy defeat. The fearsome ex Football League striker Jason Price and Shaquille Clarke-Adams, who did well for Wakefield and Ossett Town last season, came on for the second half so Nostell had to work hard.
The visitors did have some early scares. Price blazed over in an effectively open goal situation, while Hall had a shot charged down.
Nostell hit back on the hour with Pearson rising to head home a corner.
An unlikely comeback was then on the cards as Jamie Moxon’s pass opened up an opportunity and Hallsworth grasped it by planting a superb strike from 20 yards in the net.
Nostell had a couple of half-chances to equalise, but Brighouse held on.
Brighouse Town: Giles, Field, Fisher, Wilson, Gay, Melling, Hall, Hurtley, Matthews, Boafo, Henry (captain). Subs: Allison, Bower, Price, Thornton, Brown, Jagger, Charlton, Clarke-Adams, Lye.
Nostell Miners Welfare: Saynor, Marsh, W Hayton, A Hayton, Biskin, Penn, Varley, Steeples, Johnson, Winslow, Zalo. Subs: Moxon, Moyce, Pearson, Hallsworth, Brooks.
Referee: R Sherwood
Man of the match: Ryan Hall (Brighouse Town)