Del Pollock (right) scored for Glasshoughton at Runcorn
Glasshoughton Welfare tumbled out of the Emirates FA Cup last night – losing 6-1 in the Extra Preliminary Round replay at Runcorn Linnets.
Four second half goals were Welfare’s undoing and, although conceding two goals in the first half, Del Pollock pulled one back just before half-time to give the visitors some hope.
After a tortuous journey along the M62 the Welfare team only arrived at 7.25 and the kick off had to be put back to 8.00pm.
On a fine playing surface Runcorn had the first chance on 4 minutes when Francis Smith shot high and wide after a right wing cross. Another cross was headed wide by Kyle Hamid and for welfare Pollock was just beaten to the ball when one on one with Runcorn Keeper Richard Mottram.
Welfare came close on 15 minutes when Josh Morley was brought down on the left. The resultant free-kick was desperately headed over the Runcorn bar by a defender.
The hosts took the lead on 19 minutes. A great ball was played through the middle to Sherlock who rounded Matt Stables and tapped in.
Welfare suffered a huge blow on 27 minutes when striker Iain Blackburn was shown a red card fro an off the ball incident. Welfare were now up agains it and a fierce shot crashed off the visitors’ bar and Smith hit the rebound wide. Mark Houghton then shot wide with the goal gaping. Pollock hooked a shot wide for welfare and then Kyle Fish bore down on goal from the left but was unable to keep control of the ball.
Runcorn increased their lead on 42 minutes when another ball through the centre of the Welfare defence once again found Sherlock in space and he lashed the ball past Stables from 18 yards.
In added time of the first half Welfare pulled a goal back when the ball reached Pollock 25 yards out on the right. He fired at the goal and the ball somehow beat Mottram at his near post.
The second half opened with home team on the attack. A header looped over the Welfare bar and then Stables made a great one handed save from a fierce drive.
Sherlock hit a shot over the bar before James Robinson on, 68 minutes got a third for Runcorn, firing home after the ball was lost by the Welfare defence.
A minute later it was four when a shot struck Welfare skipper Jimmy Williams in the face a few yards from goal. The ball looped up and Sherlock hooked it home.
On 79 minutes it was 5.1. A shot by Michael Simpson was parried by Stables to the feet of Sherlock who made no mistake. Robinson then hit a post and Simpson drilled another shot wide.
The scoring was completed on 88 minutes when after good work by James Buckley the ball fell to Sherlock who fired in from 15 yards. It looked as though ball would be saved by Stables but it hit Josh Morley, wrong footed the keeper, and brought to an end a horrid evening for Welfare.
Runcorn Linnets: Mottram, Brislen, Buckley, Humphreys,(Armstrong) White, Cross, (Robinson) Simpson, Hamid, Sherlock, Houghton, Smith. Unused subs: Halfacre, Weeder, Hilton, Donohue.
Glasshoughton Welfare: Stables, Morley, Cawley Snaith, Williams, Walsh, R. Fish, Kirk, Pollock, Blackburn, K. Fish. Unused subs: Prudhoe, Norbury.
Referee: C Porter
Attendance: 252
Thanks to Garry Mollon from Glasshoughton for this report.