Watson inspires Parkgate to win against former side Welfare

It was a returning Richard Watson who inspired his Parkgate teammates to a second half turn around against Armthorpe Welfare at Church Street this afternoon.

Watson returned to Church Street after signing for Parkgate two months after leaving for Welfare in the summer. The shot stopper struggled to make the number one shirt his own for Welfare and returned this afternoon to haunt his old side.

Welfare came into this Premiership clash after a hard fought, well earned point at Retford in mid week with Parkgate looking to double their win tally this season after a tough start.  

The opening ten minutes saw Welfare weathering a Parkgate storm of constant attacks, which saw a shot cannon off the underside of the crossbar but didn’t cross the line, an early warning sign for Brian Johnston’s men.

After the Parkgate storm had calmed Welfare started to find a way into the game through Jay Rollins and Steve Garner shots but there was keeper’ Watson on hand to keep the scoreline at 0-0.  

Just one minute after the half hour mark Welfare won a freekick just out the 18 yard area, Jonathan Mirfin struck the shot which cannoned off the wall and fell ino the feet of the returning striker Stuart Preston, who found himself in space to slot home into the corner to put Welly into the lead.

The half time break came and it was plainly obvious why Parkgate only had one win in fourteen matches coming into todays game. Welfare needed to switch on and kill the game off in the second half, but Parkgate came out firing.

Ten minutes after the restart a poor pass from Darren Mansaram found the feet of the Parkgate skipper who lofted a ball into Tom Brown who hit Armthorpe on the counter.

Brown took a shot and forced Biggs into a save, which rebounded into the path of his strike partner who slotted home into an empty net. 1-1.

Welfare had to respond and on 63 minutes, Welfare hit a long ball into striker Darren Mansaram who tussled with the Parkgate centre half and found himself with time on the ball to slot home to put Welfare back in front.

Parkgate shot stopper Watson, then proved what Welfare has lost with a string of saves from Rollins to keep his side in the contest.

Parkgate then won the ball in the middle of the park and went on the counter, and from 20 yards out unleashed a cannonball of a shot into the top right corner, nothing Biggs could do.

Parkgate saw all three points were for the taking and with five minutes left they took them. A corner was floated over to the back post and it was poked home to dismay of everyone involved with Welfare.

The full time whistle blew with Parkgate taking the spoils. A game of two half’s and a returning Richard Watson helped the Steelmen to a second win of the season.

Welfare need to regroup for Tuesday as Church Street hosts Long Eaton United in a lower half clash which see’s Welfare in much need of three points.