Armthorpe Welfare FC v Parkgate FC

Armthorpe Welfare v Parkgate FC – Match Report

On the third time of asking the third round tie between Armthorpe Welfare and Parkgate finally got the go ahead. Difficult weather conditions postponed both fixtures in the previous weeks. Leo and his men wanted the game to happened due to the heavy run in of the relegation battle Welfare find themselves in. On a cold Tuesday night at Church Street, Leo and his team set their sights on a Quarterfinal place.

Before kick off Church Street stood in silence to remember the memory of the Parkgate gate keeper, Fred Powell, who sadly past away on the morning of the game. From the whistle Welfare stared brightly with darting runs down the left side piling early pressure on the Parkgate full back. Then on 5 minutes, Welfare won a throw, Berivan Khaled hooved the ball into the path of Leo Fortune West who took it on his chest, turned then was bundled down inside the idea, referee Hristo Karaivanov had no option but point to the spot. Captain Steve Garner stepped up and powered it into the top right corner. The early goal settled Welfare and put the pressure on Parkgate.  From the restart, Welfare played the ball along the deck with menace, once again piling the pressure on Parkgate. The ball was picked up in midfield from Chris Davies who played an inch perfect threw ball into the path of manager Leo Fortune West, who turned and once again was bundled to the ground, penalty to Welfare. Up stepped Steve Garner who placed the ball into the bottom left corner. Welfare in dreamland, 2-0 up after 10 minutes.

Parkgate then slowly started to crawl back into the game with a long free kick headed into ‘keeper William Briggs hands. But then Welfare broke on the counter with a crossfield ball from Chris Davies, headed into the path of Stuart Preston who slid a ball into the path of James Walker who struck it with venom into the bottom left corner. Three up after twenty minutes, Welfare with one foot into the quarters.

After some slow build up play from Welfare, Parkgate became frustrated and a two footed challenge on Kieran Benson saw yellow for Parkgate’s captain, Adam Shephard. Then Welfare switched off at the back and a long ball over the top, which looked offside, but wasn’t given by the official punished Welfare and Jamie Smith powered home past Briggs to make it 3-1. Parkgate started to test Welfare’s back four.

On 30 minutes Welfare became a cropper for the crossfield ball. Played from the middle of the park to Parkgate’s left winger, jinked inside Braithwaite and struck a hard curling shot into the top corner of Brigg’s goal. This goal from Craig Fletcher saw Welfare’s lead cut from three to just one after ten minutes.

Welfare felt the need to hit back, and hit back they sure did. A darting run from right full back, Mike Braithwaite, down the right hand flank, floats over a cross into the path of an unmarked Leo Fortune West who heads home from 5 yards to give Welfare the 2 goal cushion once again.

Parkgate did have a goal chalked off just minutes after the restart, due a dubious offside call from the linesman. Parkgate also hit the post and the bar in this time. Welfare were just looking for half time to come to rest and regroup. But then Welfare broke with Chris Davies who played a crossfield ball to Stuart Preston, nodded back to Davies who struck the ball on the up and Parkgate’s keeper tipped the ball onto the bar.

An end-to-end first half then came to a halt, referee Karaivanov blew for half time. Much needed for Armthorpe after coming under a barrage of pressure from Parkgate.

The second half then got underway and straight from the whistle Welfare came under heavy pressure from Parkgate. One minute after the restart, Parkgate went on the attack. An inch perfect cross from number 7, Steve Brammer was powered home off the head of forward Jamie Smith, Welfare were caught cold after half time. Roles reversed from the first half. 4-3.

Welfare’s second half tactics looked like sit back and keep the score as it is. But that didn’t plan didn’t work as it was planned. Trying to soak up as much pressure as Parkgate could throw at them, the ball was played once again to the right wing and Steve Brammer played another world class cross and that was turned home with a looping header from Sam Smith on 58 minutes over ‘keeper Brigg’s head. 4-4.

Welfare looked rattled, and did try to push for a fifth, and then it nearly came. A ball came in from the left flank and floated to an unmarked Leo fortune West who caught it sweet on his head into the bottom right corner but Parkgate’s ‘keeper Andy Sneath pulled off a top class save to keep Welfare’s star man out, to keep the score at 4-4.

Moments after Parkgate went on the attack again, stroking the ball around and making Welfare run. The ball was picked up in midfield, from 30 yards the ball was hit towards goal from Sam Roebuck, keeper Briggs slipped on the muddy pitch and the ball rolled into the back of the net. Harsh on Welfare to concede in this fashion. 4-5.

This spurred Welfare on even more. Full back, Khaled made jinking runs but none came to anything. Welfare started to tire towards full time, where Parkgate seemed to pick up a gear. Then once again, a run down the right flank from Parkgate’s Jamie Smith then jinked inside three Welfare defenders and struck a shot from 20 yards and curled it into the opposite corner, his hattrick and Parkgate’s sixth. 4-6. Welfare’s dreams of a quarterfinal place, shattered.

The full time whistle blew. A game of two poor defences saw an unconvincing win for a Parkgate side that will now meet Worksop Parramore in the quarterfinals. This now gives Welfare a chance to focus on fighting off relegation. With 6 games left of the season, fans need to get behind Leo’s men who after that first half performance tonight, should see staying in the NCELP, no problem at all.