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.