Eccleshill United v Armthorpe Welfare – West Ridings County Cup First Round Match Preview

This week see’s the return of the West Ridings County Cup and see’s Welfare travel to NCEL Division One side, Eccleshill United. There are only four rounds of the competition to reach the final, so in reality Welfare have an excellent of collecting some silverware this season.

September has been a fantastic month for Brian Johnston’s Welfare side, winning 6 out of 8 matches in all competitions. Wins over Basford United, Lincoln Moorlands Railway, Winterton Rangers and Staveley Miners Welafre see Welfare climb up the table to 12^th. Wins against AFC Liverpool and Glasshoughton Welfare see Armthorpe into the First Round of the FA Vase where they have an away tie against fellow Premier side, Liversidge.

The management of Johnston and Poppleton are taking Welfare to places they haven’t seen in many years. Its early days to be predicting a league finish but a mid table finish is certainly on the cards and the run of form of 6 wins in 8 matches must be carried into Wednesday’s cup game. Brian Johnston is getting the team to play his way and the results are starting to come along also. Goals are coming from all over the park this season with Jay Rollins scoring 6 from open play in September, adding to just one before the month started sees Rollins as Welfare’s top scorer this season with Midfielder Danny Taylor in second with 4, scoring one hat trick at Lincoln Moorlands. At the other end of the field Welfare’s defence are also starting to sure up and keeping teams at bay. The centre half pairings of Captain Craig Morley and Richard Smith are working together well, only conceding 5 in 8 games and keeping 3 clean sheets. Shot Stopper Will Biggs is also picking up plaudits making eye pleasing saves to see his clean sheet tally at 3 for the season, but with the way the back four are helping him out, there will be more to come from Biggs this season.  

Now onto the hosts, Eccleshill United have had a brilliant start to their season with two defeats in 11 games. United sit comfortably in Division one in second place five points behind runaway leaders Shaw Lane. Manager Mark Ellis has seen his side start the season with 25 points from 11 games and also seen his side into the first round of the FA Vase where they will play Premier Division side, Thackley. After three seasons in Division One, Eccleshill look to be one of the strongest sides in the league and also with Marcus Edwards the leagues third highest scorer, Eccleshill boast the power upfront to score goals. He’s the picked out danger man who will cause Welfare trouble throughout the game.

The Rapid Solicitors Stadium has only seen United goalless once this season and that was a 0-2 defeat against league leaders Shaw Lane. If Welfare want to be in the second round of the West Ridings Cup, the back of John Tunney, Craig Morley, Richard Smith and Steve Garner must be switched on and after only conceding 5 goals in the whole of September, Welfare aren’t going to go down without a fight on Wednesday evening.

If you can’t make it along to Eccleshill on Wednesday evening keep up to date with proceedings on Twitter, @thewelfare, where we will have match updates live from the ground for you and a match report will follow.  

Glasshoughton Welfare v Armthorpe Welfare - FA Vase 2nd Qualifying Round Match Report

After Welfare’s excellent victory over AFC Liverpool in the 1^st preliminary round they set up a tie with today’s opponents from the NCEL Premiership, Glasshoughton Welfare. With Armthorpe making the short trip down the M62, it was time for Brian Johnston’s side to carry on the brilliant form they’ve hit in the recent weeks.

Welfare set up in a 4-4-2 formation with a starting eleven that looked like this. William Biggs (GK), John Tunney, Craig Morley (C), Richard Smith, Steve Garner, Danny Taylor, Brad Johnston, Jonathan Mirfin, David Buck, Jay Rollins and Stuart Preston.

The tie started slowly and both sides took their time to assess each other and see how they could be broken down. Armthorpe did have an early chance through Jay Rollins but his shot was blasted well wide of the target. Glasshoughton then started to come at Welfare but with the strong back four Armthorpe have at their disposal both forwards in blue and white shirts found it tough to break through. Then on 18 minutes, what people in Football call route one, happened. Keeper’ Will Biggs with a goal kick hoofed the ball down field to Jay Rollins who tussled with the centre half to win the ball, he then found himself with a one on one chance which he dually took to put Welfare one up after 18 minutes.

Then from the kick off, Glasshoughton were caught in possession in their own half and Welfare took advantage of some sloppy play and there was Jay Rollins once again to slot it home to make it 2-0 after 19 minutes. Two goals in the space of one minute really took the stuffing out of Glasshoughton. Welfare then began to put pressure on Glasshoughton, pressing the play and forcing the midfield to give the ball away. Armthorpe then switched off and let Glasshoughton back into the game, but once again Craig Morley and Richard Smith were on hand the keep the score line at 2-0.

Then a massive blow and an add to Welfare’s growing injury list as Stuart Preston pulled up after running into the box. On came young Kieran Benson to replace him just as the half time whistle blew. Welfare went into the break dissevered leaders after a fantastic first half time display. 2-0.  

As the sun started to break through the clouds out come both sides to restart the game. And as it was expected Glasshoughton came out fighting and pushing for a goal to put the pressure on Armthorpe. Chances started to come for the home side but two world-class saves from William Biggs kept out Glasshoughton and this started to frustrate the hosts. Welfare were staying switched on to keep Glasshoughton out, but then, Welfare gave away a silly freekick in a dangerous position on the right hand side. The ball was put into a horrid area, Keeper’ Will Biggs came for the ball, flapped at it but it was met by the head of Joel Freestone to make it 2-1 with 14 minutes left to play.

Welfare had to respond, and respond they did. Four minutes after Glasshoughton halved Armthorpe’s lead, a run down the left hand side from David Buck allowed him to get across into the box and the head of Kieran Benson met it to put Welfare 3-1 up and restore their two-goal advantage. Welfare looked comfortable after that. Glasshoughton heads were down, under pressure, they knew nothing they could do would be good enough. Welfare were just too good for the home side.

And then, when Glasshoughton thought it couldn’t get any worse, it did. The ball was in the 18 yard area, both defender and keeper came out to collect it, they both clashed and there was Jay Rollins to pick the ball up and slot it into and empty net. Welfare 4-1 up with 10 minutes left to play and Rollins had his hat trick. Well earned after the shift he put in today. Welfare then saw the game out by holding the ball up in the corners and running the clock down.

A great performance saw Welfare come out on top and keep the great run of form going, 5 wins from 6 matches in all competitions. Brian’s men will now head into the first round draw on Monday morning with an away tie in the balance. Stay tuned to our twitter page to find out our fate for the draw, which will take place at 11am.