Armthorpe went into
the match looking to avenge the defeat suffered last Saturday against an
unknown Marske United. Brian Johnston and his side made the short twenty-mile
trip down the Doncaster Road to face NCEL Division One side, Hemsworth Welfare.
The first half saw
Armthorpe set up in the usual 4-2-3-1 formation; the favoured formation of
manager Brian Johnston. Both sides started well with good pressing football.
Welfares defence got into a pickle after ten minutes, Hemsworth placed a free
kick into the 18 yard area, nodded on by their centre half then it was flicked
in at the back post, only to be chalked off to what was the right call on a
offside decision from the linesman.
After this neither
side could grab hold of the game, costly mistakes in front of goal made sure
that the scoreline stayed at 0-0 until the 33rd minute when
Armthorpe broke the deadlock. Welfare had constant possession of the ball, a
misplaced pass lead to a back pass from the Hemsworth centre half, the goal
keeper misjudged it and it trickled into the net, 1-0 Welfare. Things were
looking up for Johnston’s side.
But, as the saying
goes ‘you’re most vulnerable after you’ve just scored’, and that just what
Armthorpe had ringing in their ears moments later. The ball was played over the
top by Hemsworth, and what looked to most people as an offside run, wasn’t seen
by the linesman so striker Damien Liddle had all the time in the world to pick
his spot and slot his shot past Armthorpe ‘keeper, Richard Watson. 1-1 on the
stroke of half time, a kick in the teeth for hard working Armthorpe.
The second half kicked
off with five changes to the Armthorpe line up, manager Brian Johnston still
trying to find his best eleven. After three minutes of the restart Armthorpe
switched off at the back and let Hemsworth in, luckily the shot was pulled
wide. But then just eight minutes later a mistake from young shot stopper, Will
Biggs, let Hemsworth in to take the lead. A poor, heavy touch was picked up by
Harry Viggars, he took it round the keeper and side footed it into the empty
net. 2-1 after 58 minutes, much to the delight of the home crowd.
Welfare responded
well, putting Hemsworth under lots of pressure with attacks from both wings but
the final ball wasn’t up to scratch. Hemsworth then got a foot back into the
contest and from nothing, the ball was picked up in the middle of the park, with
no Armthorpe defender around the forward, he took it round a stranded Biggs,
and slotted it into the open net once again. The game slipping away from
Armthorpe. 3-1 after 75 minutes.
Welfare had to
withstand viscous pressure from Hemsworth, forcing Biggs into a brilliant
diving save. Then a way back for Armthorpe, a jinking run from ‘Bucko’ the left
full back, he dragged a ball back to edge of the 18 yard area, Craig Morley met
it with his right boot, it cannoned off the post and bounced off the Hemsworth
keepers back to make it 3-2. But then from the kick off, the ball went down the
Armthorpe end, once again a bad touch from Biggs, let in Hemsworth for there 4th
of the evening. Silly errors from the young man, better off now then in a
league match if you ask me.
Full time blew at the
Fitzwilliam Stadium with Hemsworth coming out on top. Armthorpe played some
decent football during the match, it will take time for the lads to start
gelling, remember its only our 3rd friendly, there is still more to
come from Johnston’s men. The next match is at Church Street on Saturday against
Runcorn Town. Get down and support the lads.
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