Eccleshill United v Armthorpe Welfare - Match Report

Tonight has seen Armthorpe Welfare’s first defeat in 8 games at the hands of NCEL Division One side, Eccleshill United. Vice captain, David Buck, described the defeat as “gutting.” During his post match interview ‘Bucko’ said, ‘we didn’t turn up tonight up, our work rate was poor, our desire was the main problem. They had some good lads on the ball but if we compete like we have in the last six games then we should be winning matches like that tonight.’

Welfare made four changes for tonight’s first round tie at Eccleshill with, Jonathan Mirfin suspended and Brad Johnston, Jay Rollins and Captain Craig Morley rested from Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Staveley Miners Welfare which saw Welfare take six wins from eight games. Manager Brian Johnston wanted his side to carry on this form to see them into the second round of the competition.

The first half started slowly for Armthorpe as Eccleshill came out the blocks early and put pressure on Welfare from the kick off. The home side gave the Welfare management an early scare with a shot from inside the 18 yard area which was saved by keeper’ Will Biggs, and early wake up call. It took just 25 minutes for Eccleshill to break the deadlock with a sloppy goal to conceed on Welfare’s behalf. The ball was lost in the midfield and Marcus Edwards picked the ball up and ran in on goal, keeper Will Biggs saved the first shot but couldn’t stop the follow up which was neatly placed into the bottom corner to make it 1-0 to the home side. Edwards’ 11^th goal of the campaign.

Armthorpe then looked to keep the ball and try get and a foot into the match but once again some sloppy posessional play on 32 minutes saw Eccleshill hit Welfare on the counter, the ball was neatly played out to the right hand side where it found the feet of United’s top goal scorer this season, Marcus Edwards, who ran in on goal and calmly placed the ball into the bottom right hand corner past a diving Will Biggs to make it 2-0 to the division one side.

Armthorpe orders were being barked out by centre half Richard Smith to rally the side in attempt to nick a goal back but then ten minutes before half time, once again, Welfare lost the ball in a crucial part of the field, the cross was put on a sixth pence at the feet of Marcus Edwards, who once again calmly struck the ball home to give them a comfortable 3-0 lead and secure his hat trick. Welfare then looked to strike back with a counter attack from Danny Taylor; the ball was played into the feet of Daniel Ferguson who shot was struck wide of the post, Welfare’s first attempt on goal. Seconds later the halftime whistle blew.

As the second 45 came, the rain started to get heavier and Armthorpe began to take the game to Eccleshill. Forcing the ball down the left hand flank with Captain David Buck but the final ball lacked the cutting edge to get past the Eccleshill shot stopper.

But then with 60 minutes on the clock Welfare won a free kick on the left hand side of the 18 yard area, the ball was whipped in and up rose striker Darren Mansaram, un marked, but the ball flew over the bar, chances were coming and going for Armthorpe. Then 15 minutes later a corner was won on the left hand side by David Buck, a cross was swung in by Boyde to be met by a rising Mansaram once again but this time he came even closer, but not close enough. The ball struck bar and bounced out of play. Eccleshill were now on the back foot and Welfare tails were up.

As Welfare were up field pushing for that goal they deserved, the ball was once again lost in a crucial part of the pitch, Eccleshill took the ball down the right hand side with Marcus Edwards at the helm, he struck a cross in to be met by a rising Austin Hart to head the ball home, the killer blow for Welfare who had worked extremely hard in the second half.

The full time whistle blew and the Welfare players walked off dejected and distraught after their heaviest defeat of the season. Eccleshill deserved their win tonight after the effort and desire they’ve shown at The Rapid Solicitors Stadium this evening. It gives the Welfare squad a chance to focus on the league campaign and also the FA Vase competition, where Armthorpe play Liversedge.

When asked tonight about how Armthorpe were going to react to this defeat with a league match against Barton Town Old Boys on Saturday, David Buck said, “We have to put it right on Saturday, and that’s the work rate. Hopefully we’ll have Craig Morley and Jay Rollins back for the game but we can’t use that as an excuse for tonight’s performance. We just have to go again.”

Manager Brian Johnston, must rally his troops and pick them up to get the right result on Saturday to keep the great league form they have as of late running, and keep climbing the NCEL Premiership.