BORROWASH VICS     1         GLASSHOUGHTON WELFARE    3                                     

WELFARE WERE REQUIRED TO DIG DEEP IN TO THEIR RESILLIANCE TO EVENTUALLY OVERCOME THE LEAGUES BASEMENT TEAM WHO WERE FIELDING NO LESS THAN NINE FRESH FACES FOLLOWING A RECENT MANAGEMENT SHAKE UP AT THE CLUB.

In blustery tricky conditions the visitors survived an early free kick before Jason Bradley went close to win a corner kick and then being denied a clear cut penalty when Carl Fox was tripped in the box.  Vics made light of the let off and swept the length of the field only for Robert Briscoe to be denied by Welfare’s custodian Marc Shackelton.  Welfare gradually gained the upper hand and began to penetrate only to find the home keeper Steve Smith in good form, firstly saving from Jamie Thomson and forcing Remo Nesa to lift a good chance over.  Welfare were driving on to clinch the all important goal and were caught square when Vics broke quickly and appeared to have taken the lead but Ian Pitt had handled in to the net for which he received a caution.  With Vics looking for offside Nesa was allowed clear but failed to beat the keeper in a one to one, and despite the visitors forcing numerous corner kicks and Andy Seed testing Smith with a crisp drive it was Borrowash who broke the deadlock Lee Bestwick latching on to a miscued header from Julian Wilkes to outpace the defence and cross low for Scott Blaney to ram home on 38 minutes.

Following the interval restart Wilkes almost made amends with a superb overhead kick which defender Jay Thompson cleared off the line, but with Welfare repeatedly giving away possession it was Vics who were looking the more dangerous and after Ian Pitt had struck the visitors cross bar from close range the reality of the home men achieving there first win of the season after 21 games looked a distinct possibility.

Welfare however weathered the storm and on 53 minutes after a slick build up Carl Fox drove under Smith to put things on even keel and with the introduction of Paul Arkle Welfare at last began to boss midfield and with Vics visibly tiring a fine run and cut in by Nesa gave Lee Parker the opportunity to put Welfare in front for the first time on 82 minutes and several minutes later Arkle chipped over the defence to put Jason Bradley clear to finish clinically and allow the visitors a sigh of relief and ultimately maximum reward from a difficult encounter.

Team: Marc Shackelton, Gareth Liversedge, Julian Wilkes (Paul Arkle), Richard Dobson, Paul Mattison, Mark Newton, Andy Seed, Jason Bradley, Remo Nesa (Darren Leech), Jamie Thomson (Lee Parker), Carl Fox,