Glasshoughton Welfare put up a battling performance to earn a point with a 1-1 draw when visiting Rossington Main at a cold Oxford Street ground on Saturday.

In fairness the home side were on top for most of the game playing some great attacking football. However missed chances proved costly for them and they were shocked in the first half when welfare man of the match Adam Walsh notched his third goal of the season. It looked as though welfare would claim all 3 points but Jordan Buckham brought the scores level 7 minutes from the end

This was by far a dirty game but somehow referee Christopher Rose managed to dish out 8 yellow cards setting his stall out early with one for welfare's Nathan Perks in the opening minutes and another for Tom Carr minutes later.

Welfare brought in fullback Joe Hitch for his debut and Craig Tonkinson made his full debut in the right back position.

After the early booking of Perks welfare put a good move together and Callum Fielding, in the home goal, was quick off his line to just beat Carr to the ball.

At the other end Jacob Collier pulled off a good save to his right and did well to block the follow up effort.

Jason Stokes then had a great chance for the home side but shot straight at Collier.

The home side had forced a number of corners in the first few minutes which came to nothing but welfare took the lead with their first set piece. Jack Knight hit is first corner well and Walsh rose high to head past Fielding from 8 yards.

Shortly after, Ben Harley hit a shot over the bar but at the other end chances were opening up for the home side. Stokes hit an effort inches over the bar and Lee Holmes missed a glorious chance when he glanced a header just wide of a post.

Minutes before the break the welfare management team were furious when Fielding appeared to scoop the ball away with his hand outside his penalty area as their team attacked. After consulting his assistant Mr Rose gave Fielding a yellow card..

The home side opened the second half well on top with the tricky Sam Caygill causing problems down the right several times. From one of his runs he squared the ball to Holmes whose first time effort was just over the angle of post and bar. From a deep cross Alec Denton could only guide his shot the wrong side of Collier's post

Welfare came back and Perks shot wide when he should have done better with his effort and he would later hit another effort wide.

The home side were going all out for the equaliser and testing the welfare back four to their limits. Tonkinson cleared an effort off the line and Sam Pashley made a great last ditch tackle to deny a certain goal before Collier saved at the foot of the post from a Holmes header.

Welfare were unlucky not to get a second when Carr saw his shot from the edge of the penalty area strike the home crossbar

Seven minutes from the end the welfare defence were finally undone. As the home side attacked down the right an attempted clearance struck a home player who crossed the ball and it was prodded past Collier by Buckham.

In the dying seconds welfare had one further chance but Carr hit his freekick well over the bar.

After the game welfare joint manager Darren Holmes said,,"Have to be pleased with a point away at Rossington today .Having the lead for so long feels very disappointing but I think a draw was a fair reflection of the game. Both teams had their chances and I feel it could have gone either way.
Thought our back 4 were outstanding today especially with both full backs making their full debuts. Unlike last week we battled for the full 90 minutes and with a bit more luck could have walked away with all 3 points, however I'm sure Ryan will be saying similar things in his report. Tom Carr hit the bar .Nathan Perks should have done better after a mistake from their centre back and Ryan Poskittt had a free header that dropped straight into the keepers hands.
I Don't usually comment on officials but thought a few huge decisions should have gone our way today but didn't, and it could have been a game changer.
All in all happy with the point and lots of positives for us to work on this week in training*

Rossington Main. Fielding, Caygill, Buckham, Wilson, Gibbon, Gardner, Howe, Bamforth, Holmes, Denton, Stokes, Subs Ludlam, Whittaker, Nolan.

Glasshoughton Welfare. Collier, Tonkinson, Hitch, Hunter, Walsh, Pashley,, Poskitt, Harley,(Sokol), Carr, Knight, (Semley), Perks, Unused, Klimczak, Bowman, Collier.

Referee. Christopher Rose

Attendance. 109