A
brace from young midfielder Kieran Benson and a Darren Manasram close range
finish saw Welfare stop the run of no win in eight games, and moves Welly up to
16th in the NCEL Premiership.
Following Tuesday night stalemate at
Nostell, manager Brian Johnston had a selection headache ahead of today’s tough
tie with Barton Town.
Welfare were without key players, John
Tunney, Danny Taylor, Jay Rollins and Jonathan Mirfin today, so Johnston gave a
debut to 16 year old Luke Ferguson and welcomed back into the side Darren
Mansaram after missing Tuesday’s 0-0 draw.
The weather took a turn for the worst just
before kick off, with a downpour of rain softening the pitch and straight from
the off Welfare were on the back foot.
Early pressure from Barton forced keeper
William Biggs into an early save, after a neat piece of play by the travelling
side on six minutes.
Chances started to come for both sides after
the tie started to settle down after a nervy start from Welfare, midfielder
James Walker saw his shot stopped well after a perfect cross field ball played
by Kieran Benson.
Biggs, once again was called upon in the
Welfare goal to tip a curling shot onto the post, just after the half hour
mark.
Today’s contest had the feel of Tuesday’s
point against Nostell and Welfare went into the half time break on level terms
with Barton Town, who up and till today hadn’t lost in the league since the 19th
of October, a 21 game unbeaten run.
The second half whistle blew and just as
Johnston’s asks of his side, the men in blue came out with fire in their
stomachs.
Five minutes into the half Welfare scored
their first of the afternoon, through tireless midfielder Benson.
Benson made a galloping run down the right
hand flank and picked the ball up with space to run into, with an advancing
keeper Benson coolly stroked the ball home to give Welfare the lead.
The match officials took some criticism
today from the on looking public, and he then enraged the home fans after
awarding Barton a penalty, from what was seen as a push from midfielder Brad
Johnston on 60 minutes.
Up stepped midfielder Ashley Lattimore and
placed his kick well into the bottom right corner, just past the finger tips of
a diving Biggs.
But four minutes later Welfare got their
revenge through Benson once again. The home side hit Barton on the break and
Benson once again coolly chipped the ball over the on rushing keeper.
Barton did look weak when defending counter
attacks, and Welfare took full advantage of their naivety and hit on the break
once again through full back, David Buck.
Buck advanced down the left hand flank, got
to the by line and crossed the ball low into striker Darren Mansaram who easily
slotted home to double Welfare’s advantage on 68 minutes.
Barton did try for a point and were close
on clawing the deficit back as a freekick rattle the cross bar, signs for
Welfare that if wanted to win, they must stay switched on.
Barton did manage to grab one goal back
through Tim Taylor on 88 minutes, but it was a case of too little too late.
So Welfare have today shown they are
certainly no pushovers in the league and have broke an unbeaten run that dates
back to 2013, and moves the men in blue above local rivals Glasshoughton
Welfare in the league.
Welfare will now move onto Wednesday, where
they welcome Athersley Recreation for a South Yorkshire derby under the lights,
and have the chance to join Maltby Main on 41 points.
Welfare XI: Biggs (GK), Gibbons, Smith,
Garner (C), Benson, Ferguson (White, 45), Johnston, Aspinall, Buck, Walker
(Lee, 85), Mansaram.
Subs unused: Ryan.
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