Albion Sports 8 - Armthorpe Welfare 1

Armthorpe Welfare travelled to Albion Sports with a view to breaking the poor of form the Doncaster side find themselves in.

Five defeats on the trot in all competitions coming into this weekends tie with Albion Sports saw Brian Johnston make two changes to his starting eleven.

Striker Gary Mundy, who scored four goals in five game’s came in for Darren Mansaram and suspended Josh Gibbons was replaced by Anthony Ryan, making his second start of the season.

The game sparked into life with chances for both sides, keeper Will Biggs was tested with an early stinger.

Armthorpe then wasted two very good chances, in form Gary Mundy smashed a shot over the bar from close range, and James Walker fired over from 12 yards.

Defensive errors have cost Welfare points in the last few league games, and the first goal came from just that.

A long freekick was punted into the Welfare box on 16 minutes, both Anthony Ryan and Will Biggs jumped for the ball, Biggs failed to catch the cross and it fell into the path of Grenada international, Danny Facey to slot home into an empty net.

Albion started to pile on the pressure and the back line of Welfare crumbled. Facey once again slotting home from a Riley through ball and a John Tunney own goal saw Welfare three down just before the half hour mark.

Worry for Welfare as James Walker, who has just returned from injury came off after 40 minutes with a calf injury.

Albion’s midfield started to grab a hold of the game and carried on forcing Welfare back, but a quick counter attack from Jay Rollins then won Welfare a penalty after being brought down by James Stansfield.

Up stepped Jonathan Mirfin to reignite the fire for Welfare, but there was Aaron Brian to force the ball round the post with a strong left hand diving to his right.

Albion then countered and a neat volley past Biggs sent the home side into the break four up with Danny Facey being the difference, bullying the Welfare back line.

The second half whistle blew and Armthorpe came out firing with early chances for Mundy and Rollins.

Albion weathered the Welfare storm and soon caught Armthorpe on the counter, Danny Facey once again involved being the creator for Lee McGowans well placed header on 55 minutes.

Facey completed his hat trick and scored his 24^th of the season with a strong placed penalty past Biggs after being hauled down by Anthony Ryan. 6-0 and Welfare were dead and buried.

Albion Sports boast a striker that has international and Premier League experience in the form of Delroy Facey who made an appearance on 58 minutes at Throstle Nest.

Facey made an instant impact scoring two well worked goals with his left foot and his head to humiliate an already confidence hit Welfare. 8-0 with ten minutes left to play.

Welfare did get on the scoresheet with five minutes to play through a scrappy goal from Anthony Ryan after a squared ball from Jay Rollins.

Welfare walk away from high flying Albion Sports with their heaviest defeat in three years. Brian Johnston’s men must look for a reaction with games coming thick and fast, with matches against second placed Thackley and league leaders Tadcaster Albion at Church Street in the coming weeks. 

Thackley 4 - Armthorpe Welfare 0

An inspired William Biggs wasn’t enough to stop a rampant Thackley side running riot at Dennyfield in the second round of the FA Vase today.

Captain, Richard ‘smigger’ Smith described the keeper’s performance as “cracking” after a string of classy saves to stopped his side’s defeat becoming heavier.

Welfare welcomed back striker Darren Mansaram after missing him mid week at Glasshoughton, Welfare also had the chance to show off new signing, Robert Kilmartin after signing the Australian this week.

James Walker made his first start in over 8 months for Welfare after two subs appearances in the last two games warranted a start for the midfielder.

The game started with a flurry of movement from Welfare with an early chance for Jay Rollins, which was well saved by the Thackley keeper.

Thackley boast some of the league’s top scorers and on 17 minutes we saw why with a thunderous effort from Matt Morgan saw Will Biggs called into action to acrobatically tip the shot over the bar.

The home side started to pile on the pressure and the back four for Welfare soaked up the pressure like a sponge.

Thackley kept Biggs on his toes forcing Welfare to sit back and soak up pressure, which saw the home side have a spell of 15 minutes in the opposite half.

The first half came to close with Welfare going in the happier team and looking the better at points.

The second half whistle blew and once again Welfare attacked and won a penalty on the 50 minute mark.

Darren Mansaram picked up the ball and turned the Thackley centre half inside out, the man slipped and as he went down put a hand on the ball, the linesman gave it and up stepped Danny Taylor.

The luck that Welfare had craved still deserts them as the well struck penalty looked destined for the right hand corner, but a fantastic save from the goalkeeper, his eight penalty save from eleven, kept the scoreline at 0-0.

The Thackley pressure started to ware Welfare down and on 65 minutes the deadlock was broken. A run down the left hand flank allowed a cross to come in, it evaded everyone but Matt Hall who was unmarked to poke home at the back post.

Biggs was again on hand to keep the scoreline at 1-0, and allowed Armthorpe to pile on the pressure to force an equaliser.

Welfare were then caught on the counter, and an excellent finish from Chris Davey doubled the home sides lead and put them with one foot in the third round.

Two goals from Brendan Maltby and top scorer Matthew Mathers gave Thackley a 4-0 victory on a cold day in West Yorkshire and delighted the home supporters.

Welfare captain, Richard Smith said after the game: “I don’t think it was a fair reflection of the game to be honest. Luck hasn’t gone our way, and against a top side like Thackley, that’s what you need.

“Biggsey has made some cracking saves today and we’re all fully behind him all the way”

Welfare have now lost six matches in a row and a touch match next week at Albion Sports proves that there are no easy games in the NCEL Premiership. Smith said: “We’ve got to get something soon and pick up some points soon and break this winless run, we’ve got to stick together” 

Glasshoughton Welfare 1 - Armthorpe Welfare 0

Armthorpe Welfare slump to a fifth defeat in a row after a defensive error lead to Glasshoughton securing a fifth league win in as many games.

Armthorpe welcomed back into their starting eleven, Chris Davies after a month out due an injury. David Buck, Gary Mundy and Darren Mansaram missed out on the trip due to injuries picked up at Heanor Town on Saturday and Retford Town.

Armthorpe started the game well on a cold night at Leeds Road, pressing the Glasshoughton midfield into mistakes. Both teams took their time to work each other out.

Glasshoughton did know how Armthorpe were going to play after a 4-1 drubbing in the FA Vase earlier in the season, where striker Jay Rollins bagged a hat trick.

The first chance of the match fell for Armthorpe, Steve Garner won the ball back and went on an advancing run down the left hand flank, he pinged a ball cross field to the feet of Danny Taylor, after turning the full back inside out, Taylor dragged a left footed shot just wide of the Glasshoughton goal.

Glasshoughton then started to frustrate Armthorpe and a rash tackle from Jonathan Mirfin resulted in a freekick for the home side.

A long freekick was punted into the Welfare 18 yard area, a free header was won after not one Armthorpe defender picked up the runner, keeper Will Biggs failed to clear the ball, and a open goal was left for Darrell Young to slot home after 36 minutes.

Four minutes later an unnecessary sending off for Glasshoughton’s, James Beaston after raising an arm to Armthorpe’s, Chris Davies under the referee’s noise. The contest started to become a scrappy affair from this point.

The second half started brightly for Armthorpe, straight from the kick off Jay Rollins cut inside the left full back and fired a shot into the side netting. Early warning signs for the home side.

Delight for James Walker once again as he came off the bench for a forty-minute cameo after making his long awaited come back at Heanor Town on Saturday.

The game then slowed down and Glasshoughton sat back on their lead, another sending off for Glasshoughton then occurred as their manager, Rob Hunter, was sent from the dug out after constant jeers to the referee’s assistant on the near side.

Welfare then started to make their extra man count and a thunderbolt of a shot from Jonathan Mirfin saw Glasshoughton’s keeper, Paul Hagreen, pull off a diving save to push the ball round the post.

Welfare then pushed Hagreen into another great save from a diving header from substitute, Anthony Ryan from a James Walker freekick.

Welfare left it to late to force Glasshoughton into a mistake and the final whistle blew to end the scrappy encounter, which saw Rob Hunter’s men walk away with all three points.

Brian Johnston’s squad are now all to used to losing in the league after falling to the their fifth league defeat in a row. Welfare once again must regroup and focus on Saturday’s massive FA Vase cup tie at Thackley.

Welfare have had a good run up to now on the road in the Vase this season, after beating Glasshoughton and Liversedge, now Welfare face their third league compatriots in the competition, in the shape of Thackley at Dennyfield. 

Heanor Town 3 - Armthorpe Welfare 1

Welfare walked away from The Town Ground disheartened after what was a battling performance became in vein as Welfare’s poor defending cost them the three points.

Welfare welcomed back into their squad a returning James Walker after a back injury, which has kept him out for more than 6 months. Armthorpe were without Captain Craig Morley due a suspension.

From the kick off Welfare started the brighter forcing Town back to defend well with their two banks of four.

Then on six minutes Welfare conceded a freekick on the edge of the box. Nathan Benger stepped up and curled it over the wall, the ball bounced in front of Biggs and bounced over his head into the goal.

Three goals in the space of nine minutes proved that this game was going to be a lively one.

Heanor doubled their advantage through Nick Hall, who’s shot was deflected in by Welfare’s Steve Garner.

Welfare’s efforts then rewarded them, David Buck crossed the ball, a shot hit Heanor’s keeper and the ball fell to Darren Mansaram who slotted home to cut Town’s advantage to one.

A piece of Heanor brilliance then availed, as Keiran Debrouwer slotted home his 26^th of the season, from five yards after short, sharp passes cut through Welfare’s back line to increase their lead back to two.

The second half whistle sounded and Welfare attacked Town from the off with a shot from Jay Rollins just skimming the post.

Welfare can take one positive from the result as on 60 minutes, on came James Walker for his first appearance in an Armthorpe shirt for more than six months, a sight that will please everyone involved at Church Street.

Chaos then occurred as Josh Gibbons went flying into a tackle to win the ball, unfortunately he caught the Heanor forward and a mass brawl took place. After the situation calmed down, Gibbons was then sent for an early shower.

Welfare were still creating chances with 10 men but nothing came off for the men in blue.

The full time whistle blew, and saw a scrappy win for Heanor Town after some questionable referring decisions helped them to their tenth win of the season.

Manager Brian Johnston must rally his troops once again and move on to Tuesday where Welfare will travel to Glasshoughton for a mid table league clash.

Watson inspires Parkgate to win against former side Welfare

It was a returning Richard Watson who inspired his Parkgate teammates to a second half turn around against Armthorpe Welfare at Church Street this afternoon.

Watson returned to Church Street after signing for Parkgate two months after leaving for Welfare in the summer. The shot stopper struggled to make the number one shirt his own for Welfare and returned this afternoon to haunt his old side.

Welfare came into this Premiership clash after a hard fought, well earned point at Retford in mid week with Parkgate looking to double their win tally this season after a tough start.  

The opening ten minutes saw Welfare weathering a Parkgate storm of constant attacks, which saw a shot cannon off the underside of the crossbar but didn’t cross the line, an early warning sign for Brian Johnston’s men.

After the Parkgate storm had calmed Welfare started to find a way into the game through Jay Rollins and Steve Garner shots but there was keeper’ Watson on hand to keep the scoreline at 0-0.  

Just one minute after the half hour mark Welfare won a freekick just out the 18 yard area, Jonathan Mirfin struck the shot which cannoned off the wall and fell ino the feet of the returning striker Stuart Preston, who found himself in space to slot home into the corner to put Welly into the lead.

The half time break came and it was plainly obvious why Parkgate only had one win in fourteen matches coming into todays game. Welfare needed to switch on and kill the game off in the second half, but Parkgate came out firing.

Ten minutes after the restart a poor pass from Darren Mansaram found the feet of the Parkgate skipper who lofted a ball into Tom Brown who hit Armthorpe on the counter.

Brown took a shot and forced Biggs into a save, which rebounded into the path of his strike partner who slotted home into an empty net. 1-1.

Welfare had to respond and on 63 minutes, Welfare hit a long ball into striker Darren Mansaram who tussled with the Parkgate centre half and found himself with time on the ball to slot home to put Welfare back in front.

Parkgate shot stopper Watson, then proved what Welfare has lost with a string of saves from Rollins to keep his side in the contest.

Parkgate then won the ball in the middle of the park and went on the counter, and from 20 yards out unleashed a cannonball of a shot into the top right corner, nothing Biggs could do.

Parkgate saw all three points were for the taking and with five minutes left they took them. A corner was floated over to the back post and it was poked home to dismay of everyone involved with Welfare.

The full time whistle blew with Parkgate taking the spoils. A game of two half’s and a returning Richard Watson helped the Steelmen to a second win of the season.

Welfare need to regroup for Tuesday as Church Street hosts Long Eaton United in a lower half clash which see’s Welfare in much need of three points. 

Eccleshill United v Armthorpe Welfare - Match Report

Tonight has seen Armthorpe Welfare’s first defeat in 8 games at the hands of NCEL Division One side, Eccleshill United. Vice captain, David Buck, described the defeat as “gutting.” During his post match interview ‘Bucko’ said, ‘we didn’t turn up tonight up, our work rate was poor, our desire was the main problem. They had some good lads on the ball but if we compete like we have in the last six games then we should be winning matches like that tonight.’

Welfare made four changes for tonight’s first round tie at Eccleshill with, Jonathan Mirfin suspended and Brad Johnston, Jay Rollins and Captain Craig Morley rested from Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Staveley Miners Welfare which saw Welfare take six wins from eight games. Manager Brian Johnston wanted his side to carry on this form to see them into the second round of the competition.

The first half started slowly for Armthorpe as Eccleshill came out the blocks early and put pressure on Welfare from the kick off. The home side gave the Welfare management an early scare with a shot from inside the 18 yard area which was saved by keeper’ Will Biggs, and early wake up call. It took just 25 minutes for Eccleshill to break the deadlock with a sloppy goal to conceed on Welfare’s behalf. The ball was lost in the midfield and Marcus Edwards picked the ball up and ran in on goal, keeper Will Biggs saved the first shot but couldn’t stop the follow up which was neatly placed into the bottom corner to make it 1-0 to the home side. Edwards’ 11^th goal of the campaign.

Armthorpe then looked to keep the ball and try get and a foot into the match but once again some sloppy posessional play on 32 minutes saw Eccleshill hit Welfare on the counter, the ball was neatly played out to the right hand side where it found the feet of United’s top goal scorer this season, Marcus Edwards, who ran in on goal and calmly placed the ball into the bottom right hand corner past a diving Will Biggs to make it 2-0 to the division one side.

Armthorpe orders were being barked out by centre half Richard Smith to rally the side in attempt to nick a goal back but then ten minutes before half time, once again, Welfare lost the ball in a crucial part of the field, the cross was put on a sixth pence at the feet of Marcus Edwards, who once again calmly struck the ball home to give them a comfortable 3-0 lead and secure his hat trick. Welfare then looked to strike back with a counter attack from Danny Taylor; the ball was played into the feet of Daniel Ferguson who shot was struck wide of the post, Welfare’s first attempt on goal. Seconds later the halftime whistle blew.

As the second 45 came, the rain started to get heavier and Armthorpe began to take the game to Eccleshill. Forcing the ball down the left hand flank with Captain David Buck but the final ball lacked the cutting edge to get past the Eccleshill shot stopper.

But then with 60 minutes on the clock Welfare won a free kick on the left hand side of the 18 yard area, the ball was whipped in and up rose striker Darren Mansaram, un marked, but the ball flew over the bar, chances were coming and going for Armthorpe. Then 15 minutes later a corner was won on the left hand side by David Buck, a cross was swung in by Boyde to be met by a rising Mansaram once again but this time he came even closer, but not close enough. The ball struck bar and bounced out of play. Eccleshill were now on the back foot and Welfare tails were up.

As Welfare were up field pushing for that goal they deserved, the ball was once again lost in a crucial part of the pitch, Eccleshill took the ball down the right hand side with Marcus Edwards at the helm, he struck a cross in to be met by a rising Austin Hart to head the ball home, the killer blow for Welfare who had worked extremely hard in the second half.

The full time whistle blew and the Welfare players walked off dejected and distraught after their heaviest defeat of the season. Eccleshill deserved their win tonight after the effort and desire they’ve shown at The Rapid Solicitors Stadium this evening. It gives the Welfare squad a chance to focus on the league campaign and also the FA Vase competition, where Armthorpe play Liversedge.

When asked tonight about how Armthorpe were going to react to this defeat with a league match against Barton Town Old Boys on Saturday, David Buck said, “We have to put it right on Saturday, and that’s the work rate. Hopefully we’ll have Craig Morley and Jay Rollins back for the game but we can’t use that as an excuse for tonight’s performance. We just have to go again.”

Manager Brian Johnston, must rally his troops and pick them up to get the right result on Saturday to keep the great league form they have as of late running, and keep climbing the NCEL Premiership.  

Eccleshill United v Armthorpe Welfare – West Ridings County Cup First Round Match Preview

This week see’s the return of the West Ridings County Cup and see’s Welfare travel to NCEL Division One side, Eccleshill United. There are only four rounds of the competition to reach the final, so in reality Welfare have an excellent of collecting some silverware this season.

September has been a fantastic month for Brian Johnston’s Welfare side, winning 6 out of 8 matches in all competitions. Wins over Basford United, Lincoln Moorlands Railway, Winterton Rangers and Staveley Miners Welafre see Welfare climb up the table to 12^th. Wins against AFC Liverpool and Glasshoughton Welfare see Armthorpe into the First Round of the FA Vase where they have an away tie against fellow Premier side, Liversidge.

The management of Johnston and Poppleton are taking Welfare to places they haven’t seen in many years. Its early days to be predicting a league finish but a mid table finish is certainly on the cards and the run of form of 6 wins in 8 matches must be carried into Wednesday’s cup game. Brian Johnston is getting the team to play his way and the results are starting to come along also. Goals are coming from all over the park this season with Jay Rollins scoring 6 from open play in September, adding to just one before the month started sees Rollins as Welfare’s top scorer this season with Midfielder Danny Taylor in second with 4, scoring one hat trick at Lincoln Moorlands. At the other end of the field Welfare’s defence are also starting to sure up and keeping teams at bay. The centre half pairings of Captain Craig Morley and Richard Smith are working together well, only conceding 5 in 8 games and keeping 3 clean sheets. Shot Stopper Will Biggs is also picking up plaudits making eye pleasing saves to see his clean sheet tally at 3 for the season, but with the way the back four are helping him out, there will be more to come from Biggs this season.  

Now onto the hosts, Eccleshill United have had a brilliant start to their season with two defeats in 11 games. United sit comfortably in Division one in second place five points behind runaway leaders Shaw Lane. Manager Mark Ellis has seen his side start the season with 25 points from 11 games and also seen his side into the first round of the FA Vase where they will play Premier Division side, Thackley. After three seasons in Division One, Eccleshill look to be one of the strongest sides in the league and also with Marcus Edwards the leagues third highest scorer, Eccleshill boast the power upfront to score goals. He’s the picked out danger man who will cause Welfare trouble throughout the game.

The Rapid Solicitors Stadium has only seen United goalless once this season and that was a 0-2 defeat against league leaders Shaw Lane. If Welfare want to be in the second round of the West Ridings Cup, the back of John Tunney, Craig Morley, Richard Smith and Steve Garner must be switched on and after only conceding 5 goals in the whole of September, Welfare aren’t going to go down without a fight on Wednesday evening.

If you can’t make it along to Eccleshill on Wednesday evening keep up to date with proceedings on Twitter, @thewelfare, where we will have match updates live from the ground for you and a match report will follow.