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’)