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.