NCEL round-up: Rossington Main push title chasers all the way

Goals late in each half saw Rossington Main beaten 2-0 at home against second-in-the-table AFC Emley.
Goalkeeper Dan Morton impressed for Rossington against AFC Emley. Photo: Mark ParsonsGoalkeeper Dan Morton impressed for Rossington against AFC Emley. Photo: Mark Parsons
Goalkeeper Dan Morton impressed for Rossington against AFC Emley. Photo: Mark Parsons

Chris Glarvey’s side, however, can take a lot of credit from a game where they matched their promotion-chasing opponents for long spells.

The defeat saw Rossington slip one place to 18th in Division One but with only Ollerton Town of the bottom six picking up any points, following their last-gasp 2-1 victory at Yorkshire Amateur, Main have a healthy a 12-point buffer over the bottom two.

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Emley looked dangerous when they went forward and Josh Ingham was not far away with a flicked header that dropped just wide of the far post.

The visitors broke the deadlock on 38 minutes. Jordan Coduri’s pace took him away from the Rossington defence to set up Kieran Ryan for an easy tap-in.

It took a marvellous save from Dan Morton moments later from Ingham’s firmly struck shot to prevent Emley extending the lead.

Glarvey’s side were agonisingly close to a leveller at the start of the second half when Cameron Johnson got clear on goal only to be thwarted by a superb save from Graham McLachlan.

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Rossington looked threatening and after one quick break Johnson headed just wide. Then it was Johnson who again went close, hitting the side netting after beating the offside trap.

Hopes of getting something out of the game vanished for Main on 73 minutes when Ryan rifled in his second of the game after seizing on a defensive mistake.

The forward was then denied a hat trick when Morton got a good hand to his shot five minutes from time.

Glarvey’s side face another tough game this weekend with a trip to another of the promotion chasers in Penistone Church.

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Armthorpe Welfare return to action on Saturday when third-placed Bridlington Town are the visitors to Church Street.

With Welfare without a game last weekend they could have slipped into the bottom three had relegation rivals Parkgate taken a point from their home clash with Handsworth Parramore.

But much to the relief of Michael Carmody’s side the Steelmen went down 5-3 to remain a point behind Armthorpe having used up one of their two games in hand.

Barton Town, whose game against Athersley Recreation was postponed, remain just a point further behind with two games to spare.

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Retford United stay bottom after a 1-0 defeat at Garforth Town, thus remaining four points adrift of Welfare with a game in hand.

Armthorpe, at the very least, will be wanting to restore some pride against Bridlington following a 7-1 drubbing on the east coast in October.

Maltby Main saw their three-match winning run come to a halt with a 4-2 defeat at Staveley MW.