Armthorpe Welfare 1 - Brighouse Town 5

Defensive errors cost Welfare in a game in which a second half revival wasn’t enough to beat high flying Brighouse Town at Chruch Street today.

Welfare were without key players for the clash with the West Yorkshire side today, Richard Smith, Darren Mansaram, Jonathan Mirfin, James Walker and Stuart Preston all missed out.

Brian Johnston’s side had won their last two league games, scoring eight goals in the process, only conceding one along the way.

On a cold day in South Yorkshire the home side had barely touched the ball before they found themselves one down.

A slip from midfielder, Anthony Ryan, on two minutes left Adam Matthews to pick up the ball, and unleash a shot, which bounced in front of keeper, William Biggs to put his side one up.

Matthews, who has scored 23 goals this season for Town then put Welfare under even more pressure, after a ball over the top found the feet of the forward who calmly slotted home on 12 minutes.

Welfare were caught on the counter once again, but had keeper Biggs to thank after tipping a shot onto the post which was cleared by Steve Garner.

But six minutes later, once again a counter attack became Welfare’s downfall as Joe Jagger scored his first of the afternoon and put Welfare three down before the half hour mark.

Welfare didn’t give much of an attacking display in the first 45 and walked off the muddy Church Street field dissevering to be three goals down.

As the second half whistle blew, the floodlights lit up Church Street and Welfare woke up.

Chances fell to striker Jay Rollins and David Buck who both struck their shots over the bar.

Welfare were the caught up the field and were hit on the counter once again, defender John Tunney went down injured and left a gap for Joe Jagger to pick the ball up and fire a curling shot past keeper Biggs to make it four on 57 minutes.

Welfare then started to find a way back into the game after forcing chances against a tiring Brighouse back four.

Brian Johnston then gave Tony Hattersley a chance to prove himself and that he just did, a pass found the feet of the youngster and he fired a curling shot with his right foot to give a Welfare a way back into the game.

But then, once again, Welfare were caught on the counter attack, a shot was well saved but rebounded into the path of Ernest Boafo who powered home to make it five for Brighouse on 72 minutes.

Welfare did have chances at the end of the game through Stuart Gibbard and Captain Craig Morley but to no avail and the full time whistle blew.

Welfare’s two game unbeaten run has been destroyed at the hands of a clinical Brighouse side that are tipped for promotion after a strong start to their season.

Welfare must now regroup for a tough away tie trip to mid table Garforth Town next Saturday, in search of the first three points of 2014.

Basford United 3 - Armthorpe Welfare 1

On a cold, grey day in Basford, former England international Lee Hendrie shone threw to give his new side all three points at Greenwich Avenue this afternoon. 

Welfare welcomed back Josh Gibbons into the starting eleven in the place of Tuesday's match winner, Craig Morley. Darren Mansaram also forced his way back in the starting line up after missing Tuesday's win over Thackley through illness.

Lee Hendrie started his first game for his new club Basford United after signing for the Nottinghamshire based side during the week.

The first ten minutes saw possessional football being played by both sides as they tried to find a way through each other's back line.

Former Villa man, Hendrie, showed his quality on 17 minutes, after picking up the ball on the edge of the 18 yard area, jinked past Steve Garner, and dinked the ball past Welfare's keeper Will Biggs.

Brian Johnston wanted an instant reaction from his players and that's just what he got. Jay Rollins and Darren Mansaram narrowly missing from close range.

Welfare were starting to find a way through the Basford back line until, a break away move forced Armthorpe back, a shot from Fabian Smith took a big deflection off Stuart Gibbard which wrong footed Biggs and hit the back of the net.

That goal 10 minutes before half time sent Welfare into the break 2-0 down and on the brink of a 10 defeat in 11 games.

When the second half whistle blew, Welfare flew out of the blocks. Jay Rollins picked up the ball on the right hand flank, played the ball into Stuart Preston who unleashed an unstoppable left foot curing shot to give Welly a way back into the contest.

Assistant manager Dave Poppleton urged his team on from the sidelines to press the play and get in Basford faces, and the players did just that.

Welfare then very nearly levelled the contest through Danny Taylor from a game of pinball in the box, which hit the post and the ball popped up to the Basford keeper and he took charge with his hands.

With ten minutes left, Jay Rollins found himself in space after a break away run and became one on one with the keeper, but pushed his shot inches wide.

The crowd felt there would be one more goal left in the game and unfortunately it came from Jamie Walker to break the Welfare momentum and give Basford all three points.

Once again a poor start and an excellent finish for Welfare wasn't enough just like it was on Tuesday night. Brian Johnston's men must regroup for the long trip to Pickering on Tuesday night.

Armthorpe Welfare 2 - Thackley 0

The fourth contest between these two sides this season, saw Welfare walk away from a cold Church Street winning their first game in eight matches, with goals from Jay Rollins and Captain Craig Morley.

Welfare came into this Premiership clash having lost eight matches in all competitions on the bounce including heavy defeats at Thackley, Albion Sports and Heanor Town, only scoring six goals in the recent run of poor form.

Welfare gave a second start of the season to Luke Atkinson after impressing in the unlucky 1-0 defeat to runaway leaders Tadcaster, Craig Morley captained the side also in the absence of Richard Smith.

Both teams started slowly with only a few chances in the first 20 minutes. Thackley’s Matt Hall came closest to breaking the deadlock with a selfish shot into the side netting.

The game then lit up with an off the ball incident causing a sending off for Thackley.

Luke Atkinson won the ball fairly off Luke Richardson, as Atkinson got back to his feet, Richardson felt the need to raise both hands and push Welfare’s number two to the ground, the referee sent Richardson packing much to his disgust.

This was the turning point in the game as the first half came to a halt with very few chances for both sides.

Just as manager Brian Johnston wants his team to play, Welfare started the second half with an intense work rate and forced Thackley into mistakes.

The chances started to come for Welfare as they made the extra man count with Stuart Gibbard coming close, heading over from an inch perfect cross from Rollins.

An excellent piece of play from Welfare broke the deadlock. Jay Rollins held the ball up for Danny Taylor who played a defence splitting pass into Rollins, who took a touch and placed the ball into the Thackley goal, his ninth goal of the season.

11 minutes later, Welfare attacked once again with Stuart Preston, Danny Taylor squared the ball, a missed shot from Gibbard fell into the path of captain fantastic, Craig Morley, to slot home and double the home sides advantage.

The final whistle blew and the reaction everyone involved in the club was hoping for. A second half performance that stunned highflying Thackley, showed that Armthorpe are no push overs.

Welfare travel to mid table Basford United on Saturday, looking for back to back wins for the first time since September.