Brighouse Town 4 - Welfare 1

Welfare came into this League contest on the back of heavy defeat at local rival’s, Maltby Main, on Saturday and looked to bounce back with three points and chalk up another away win.

Brian Johnston made four changes to the side that shipped six against Maltby on Saturday, in came goal keeper Liam Copley, Jonathan Mirfin, Henry Sibenge and Bhekisipho Sibanda. Midfielder Brad Johnston was recalled after serving his lengthy suspension to take a place on the bench, as did Stuart Preston.

Missing out were Will Biggs, Kieran Benson who dropped to the bench, strikers Darren Mansaram and Richard Smith.

Welfare started the match brightly creating many chances, the best of which through Sibanda who headed straight into the keepers hands from a Sibenge cross.

A wake up call for the Welfare defence then rung out as an Ernest Boafo shot stung the post on 11 minutes.

Welfare were coping very well after making a fantastic start to the match, then on 25 minutes Wellie took the lead through a well worked move.

Full back David Buck picked up a loose ball and advanced down the line, he whipped in a cross, which deflected off a defender and fell neatly into the path of Sibanda, who slotted home into an empty net.

Six minutes later Welfare were pegged back after a neat piece of play from the home side.

Ernst Boafo picked up a pass, turned on captain Craig Morley and unleashed a bullet of a shot into the bottom left hand corner.

Welfare then looked to take the lead again but lost the ball in the final third and Town went on the break, and slotted home past Copley to take the lead.

Two goals within the space of four minutes killed Welfare’s mood after a strong first half an hour, where three points looked in their hands.

Welfare started the second half nice and lively, forcing the Brighouse defence to think about what they were doing.

Captain Morley urged on his troops to try and grab the equaliser that looked to be coming the South Yorkshire side’s way.

But then on 74 minutes, substitute Kieran Benson lost the ball in the midfield, and Town’s Boafo hit a curling shot past keeper Copley to give Town a two goal advantage, heartbreak for a hard working Welfare side.

Questionable referring decisions then came into question after a two footed lung on defender John Tunney went unpunished by the referee, much to the disgust of Captain Craig Morley who received a booking for his protests.

12 minutes later, Brighouse smashed in the final nail in Welfare’s coffin after a great turn and finish sent the homeside on their way to three points. 

Walking away from the Dual Seal Stadium with nothing hit Welfare hard, after a battling performance left Wellie disheartened.

Brian Johnston’s men have now currently lost two on the road, and entertain mid table Athersley Recreation at Church Street on Saturday.

Maltby Main 6 - Welfare 0

A feisty and heated contest at Muglet Lane for the second Yorkshire derby within a week saw Welfare struggle on a heavy pitch and conceed six.

Welfare travelled to Muglet Lane making only one change to the side that beat Main last weekend at Church Street, Luke Atkinson came in to replace a missing John Tunney.

Maltby were still without influential striker, Brian Cusworth, due to a back injury. A lifeline for Welfare, with him scoring 17 in the season so far.

Welfare started the brighter of the two sides, and had a chance through striker Darren Mansaram on eight minutes.

Manasaram found himself with time and space after an inch perfect cross from Danny Taylor, put under pressure from Main’s keeper, Mansaram could only scoop his shot over the bar.

Four minutes later, Welfare conceded their first of the afternoon, after poor piece of defending.

Captain Craig Morley failed to produce a back pass to keeper Will Biggs, as the ball fired around the box, it fell to the feet of a Maltby forward who curled a shot past Biggs.

A heavy pitch at Muglet Lane didn’t allow the ball to be played on the deck, and Welfare struggled to get a foot in the match, with the tackles flying in from the men in red, Welfare stood up to the task.

Half time came and Welfare battled to keep the score line at just one and trudged off the muddy pitch with three points within their grasp.

A major slope at Muglet Lane gave Welfare a chance during the second 45, running down the hill.

But straight from the kick off Main doubled their lead, a shot from distance forced Biggs into a save, but the rebound fell into the path of a red shirt who powered home on 47 minutes.

Three minutes later Main gave the fans what they wanted and powered home another rebound from a Biggs save.

Welfare looked rattled, and started to loose their heads. Maltby like to play an aggressive form of football, bullying their opponents out of the game, and Welfare seemed to back down.

And such the fourth goal proved, Maltby won a dubious freekick about 30 yards out, the freekick was whipped in and avoided everyone in the box, and beat Biggs at his near post.

Two minutes later, Welfare conceded their fifth after a curling effort was placed over the head of keeper Biggs and sent the home fans into raptures.

One worry for manager Brian Johnston, striker Richard Smith came off complaining of a groin injury and puts him as a doubt for the midweek trip to Brighouse Town.  

Welfare did start to create some chances, Craig Aspinall rounded a neat piece of play by chipping the ball just over the bar.

Danny Taylor then headed wide from a Kieran Benson cross but that was all Welfare could muster on a poor day all round.

Welfare were then caught again on the break, and conceded their sixth of the afternoon, a poor day all round for Brian Johnston’s men.

Johnston must know pick his team up for Tuesday’s trip to highflying Brighouse Town, in search of three points to push them into 15^th in the league.

Welfare 2 - Maltby Main 0

Vice Captain Richard Smith described Welfare’s second win of 2014 as a “great result” after a 2-0 win over South Yorkshire rivals, Maltby Main.

Brian Johnston’s men have now won four in their last five league games, and this upturn in form has now seen them climb the table, avoiding the fight for relegation.

Johnston made just one change to the side that beat Garforth Town last Saturday, with striker Jay Rollins ruled out with a hamstring injury, vice captain Smith came in as his replacement up top.

Maltby have recently had a poor down turn in form, only winning two of their last 10 league games, and missed influential striker and top scorer, Brian Cusworth for their trip to Church Street today.

Welfare got the action underway and the first ten minutes saw neither side create any chances for their strikers to put away.

But on 11 minutes Welfare broke the deadlock through young midfielder, Kieran Benson.

A long goal kick from keeper William Biggs, allowed Darren Mansaram to lay the ball off for Benson who beat the on rushing Maltby keeper to score his fifth of the season.

Then straight away Main came back at the home side, and forced a fantastic reflex save from keeper Biggs, diving to his left hand side.

The pitch at Church Street, due to poor weather conditions, didn’t help either side but saw Welfare take their lead into the half time break.

The second half whistle blew, and once again, just like the whole season, Welfare came out firing.

And on 55 minutes Welfare scored their second, through midfielder Danny Taylor after an excellent piece of pressing play.

Maltby were caught in possession on the edge of the 18 yard area and Taylor put the full back under pressure, he won the ball and cheekily chipped the on rushing keeper to net his eighth goal of the season.

Main then started to play and put Wellie under some considerable pressure by pushing men forward, looking for a goal to put them back into the contest.

Welfare started to sit back and take their two goal lead, but once again they had Biggs to thank after another brilliant save, to keep his run of clean sheets going.

With 10 minutes left of the South Yorkshire derby, Maltby continued their pressure and headed over from a corner, which woke Welfare up, but that was the last of the action.

The full time whistle blew, and gave Welfare a fourth win in five games in the league.

Welfare have now also kept two clean sheets in a row, and Smith believes this will give the squad a lift: “Bucko has come in at left back, and Garner has now moved into the centre, they haven’t put a foot wrong but it’s a team effort.”

“Things are picking up, we’re working hard in training, and we’re getting lads back and we’re gelling and working hard for each other and its certainly showing on the pitch.”

Welfare now travel to Maltby Main next weekend in search of another three points and a third win in a row, ‘Smigger’ as he’s known had this to say on next weeks away tie: “Next week is going to be a slog again, their pitch is small and tight and poor condition wise, they’re a physical team and we’ve got to be committed to the cause like we were and win those three points.”

Welfare have moved onto 32 points, only two points off 15^th place in the league, which can be took next week with a win over Maltby, and extra incentive for the team.

Welfare: Biggs, Tuney, Morley, Garner, Bucko, Taylor, Aspinall, Walker, Benson (Mirfin 77’), Mansaram (Ryan 87’), Smith (Gibbons 90’)

Garforth Town 0 - Armthorpe Welfare 2

2014 starts with a win for Welfare, after a battling performance in a scrappy encounter against a mid table Garforth Town.

Welfare came into the game on the back of a mixed December, after winning three of their six matches, loosing the other three, with heavy defeats to Pickering Town, Brighouse Town and Basford United.

Manager Brian Johnston gave new signing Craig Aspinall his first start for Welfare today, after rejoining from Retford United in the week.

James Walker and Darren Mansaram both returned to the starting line up after missing the 5-1 defeat to Brighouse last weekend.

Straight from the whistle Welfare controlled the game, passing the ball around with ease on a tricky surface.

The first chance for Armthorpe came on 7 minutes when, forward Jay Rollins picked up the ball on the right hand side and pushed to the by line, he got his cross off which fizzed across goal, narrowly missing Kieran Benson.

After a bright start Welfare then let Garforth into the game, and route one football very nearly caught Armthorpe on the back foot on 18 minutes.  

A long ball was played over the top, a charging Will Biggs came and missed the shot, which started to roll towards his net, but luckily Steve Garner had his sprinting boots on and saved a certain Town goal, a let off for Welfare.

Welfare then had to wait till 41 minutes for their next chance, full back David Buck heading over from a Rollins freekick.

That was the final action of the first half and Welfare went into the break level pegging but the much better side.

As the second half whistle blew, Welfare were put under pressure from the kick off, and had keeper Biggs to thank after a wonderful save from a Craig Morley mistake, which allowed Garforth to be one on one with the keeper.

Then on 51 minutes winger Benson who caused an issue, breaking in from the left hand side and forced a freekick.

James Walker stepped up to hit the freekick, which struck the post and fell into the path of Darren Mansaram, who was there to slot home from 2 yards to give Welfare the lead.

From then on in Welfare had to cope with intense Garforth pressure, who pushed for an equaliser.

The contest then started to get scrappy, and bookings for both sides were handed out after some questionable decisions from the official in the middle.

Then on 85 minutes Garforth were down to 10 men after a second booking for Tawanda Rupere, who was deemed to have fouled David Buck in front of the dugouts.

Welfare then attacked for one final time and substitute, Tony Hattersley, forced a save from Michael Bathurst which roll out for a corner.

Kieran Benson put the corner in, and there was Captain Craig Morley to rise high and head home, to double Welfare’s lead in the 90^th minute.

Welfare manager Brian Johnston then wanted to run the clock down and brought on Anthony Ryan for goal scorer, Darren Mansaram.

The final whistle blew and Welfare have made the best possible start to 2014, with a hard fought away win in West Yorkshire, their second win away all season.

Welfare will now roll on to next weekend, a home tie against fellow South Yorkshire side, Maltby Main.

With two ties against Maltby in consecutive weeks, Welfare can reach 15^th in the league, if results go their way.