Staveley Miners Welfare playing in their changed kit of
Orange orange and orange kicked off this Toolstation Northern Counties East
League Premier Division Match against Armthorpe Welfare heading towards the
dressing room end of the Welfare ground and, showed two changes from the win
against Liversedge on Saturday with Ash Rawson and Jamie Brown returning at the
expense of Ross Goodwin and Charlie Oglesby who both moved to the bench.
Both sides went about getting the three points in a tigerish
fashion ensuring that possession football would not be the order of the day and
although the home side had their moments Staveleys superior quality in front of
goal would prove decisive.
The Trojans began on the front foot but after Courtney
Hastings was the victim of a dubious offside decision momentum swung back in
favour of Armthorpe, Craig Aspinalls cross to set up David Buck for a strike on
goal which was well covered by Matt Varley who cleared...
...Tom McLaughlin was next to try his luck and somehow managed
to dance past three Staveley defenders on the byline before running the ball
out of play at the vital crossing / shooting moment.
Possession changed hands again and six minutes in Ash Rawson
created a chance for Jamie Brown with a pass from the right hand central
midfield area but Brown shot just wide of the near post, and a minute later
Rawson was again the provider with a ball over the top of the Armthorpe defence
aiming for the run of Kieren Watson, but before Watson could control it, it hit
the ground and took a funny bounce away from Staveleys in form striker,
prompting the locals to explain that although the pitch looked ok there are
quite a few areas on it where it “just won’t run”.
It did run though for Staveley in the 9th minute
when Matt Varley strode out of defence riding two challenges before being
clattered by a third but not before offloading the ball to Adam Scott who took
advantage of the advantage played by the referee by deftly controlling the high
ball and in the same movement wrong footed goalkeeper Leigh Overton who no
doubt expected Scott to hit it first time on the volley before tapping home
with his left foot into the empty net.
Armthorpe Welfare 0 – 1 SMWFC
That was a rare moment of quality in a first half of attrition
and it took another ten or so minutes for anyone to fashion another chance if
you can all it that… this time Courtney Hastings pulled his shot wide after
beating two players but it never looked like going in and was easily cleared.
Midway through the half it was once again Armthorpes turn to
cause problems with David Buck over hitting a cross from left which was
collected and returned with aplomb by James Handley on the opposite side. Ash
Rawson was there though and his interception and pass set Courtney Hastings on
a run. He fired the ball into the box where it was stopped by a defender for
Leigh Overton to pick up but the referee waved away the many back pass claims.
The home sides best chance fell to Craig Aspinall on 36
minutes but his 25 yard effort was excellently flicked onto the bar and over
for a corner, which came to nothing by Staveley ‘keeper Nick Siddons.
and just before halftime Leigh Overton produced similar heroics
when Adam Scott who had once again been set on a run by Ash Rawson got the ball
out from under his feet to crash a shot from a tightish angle onto the near
post via the fingertips of Overton the resultant corner, though came to nothing.
HT: Armthorpe Welfare 0 – 1 SMWFC.
Craig Getliff who is not yet quite up to speed following a
knee injury was replaced by Charlie Oglesby who slotted in at left back
allowing Steve Carty to move to the more familiar central midfield role vacated
by Getliff.
Armthorpe continued to press but struggled to create chances
and in the 70th minute, the nerves were settled, when Jamie Brown
broke down the left and fed Kieran Watson who had pulled out wide, his centre
found Courtney Hastings but with his back to goal he unselfishly laid the ball
on a plate to Jamie Brown who stuck the ball into the back of the net.
Armthorpe Welfare 0 – 2 Staveley MW
The stuffing had been knocked out of the home side and they
were undone again 5 minutes later when Kieren Watson again turned provider with
a back heel to Steve Carty who rifled a shot along the floor into the bottom
corner, from just outside the box.
Armthorpe Welfare 0 – 3 Staveley MW
And as the clocked ticked over to 90 Adam Scott grabbed his
second of the game when he raced clear of a tiring defence and cheekily dinked
it over the ‘keeper.
Ft: Armthorpe Welfare 0 – 4 Staveley MW
The scoreline was perhaps a little flattering as Armthorpe
were well in the game for an hour...but football is all about taking your
chances when they come along and the Trojans certainly did that – 4 shots on
target 4 goals! #clinical.
Attendance: 53
SMWFC Line Up:1.Nick Siddons.2.Chris Baugh.3.Steve
Carty.4.Ash Rawson.5.Matt Varley.6.Richard Mintoft.7.Adam Scott.8.Criag Getliff(17.Charlie
Oglesby).9.Courtney Hastings(15.Lewis Naylor).10.Kieren Watson.11.Jamie Brown
(14.Luke Walker)
Subs Not Used: 12. Ross Goodwin.16.Matthew Robinson
Chairman's Message
There is certainly a string of results, 7 wins in 8 games, that can indicate a strengthening of ability, fitness and a winning mentality BUT of course this is football, a game that can no sooner can it reward you it will kick you where it hurts and HARD. However, the enjoyment factor has certainly been revving high and everyone has enjoyed a great set of results. Well done all.
