Armthorpe Welfare share spoils with Epworth Town Colts in first friendly outing

Manager Mike Carmody made wholesale changes to his side at half time as he gave most of his squad at least 45 minutes game time.

Welfare took the game to their hosts straight from the off and but for some good saves from the Epworth goalkeeper could have been well ahead by half time.

In only the third minute some good play saw Chris Simpkins put a left footed shot agonisingly wide of the far post from just inside the box and three minutes later Adam Baskerville saw his close range effort deflected wide of the post.

But the home side kept Welfare honest as they broke away at pace on nine minutes before a short from the edge of the box struck the post.

Paul Sherburn saw his 16 yard snap-shot blocked by the goalkeeper’s legs before Baskerville and Jordan Snodin combined inside the box for the latter to see his angled shot pushed past the post.

Reece Lucas had the ball in the net on 18 minutes but the goal was ruled out for handball, while on 31 minutes Sherburn was again thwarted by the goalkeeper’s legs, this time from an angled 12 yard shot.

Josh Bowkett saw his 18 yard volley saved on the line before Welfare lost Snodin through injury on 44 minutes, Harry Brown replacing him.

Despite wholesale changes at half time Welfare continued on the offensive with Lee McFadden volleying over following a Brown cross from the right on 47 minutes.

Six minutes later Welfare took the lead. James Arnold’s ball in following a corner was knocked down by Conner Williamson before being half-cleared to Sherburn who hit a first-time shot into the net from the edge of the box.

On 67 minutes Baskerville set up Luke Williams inside the box but again the home goalkeeper came to the rescue by again blocking the shot with his legs and 11 minutes later McFadden almost caught the goalkeeper out with a shot from a tight angle which was pushed out from underneath the bar.

Epworth grabbed an equaliser with seven minutes to play when they won a corner on their right and when the ball was played in captain Ryan Douglas rose to head in.

There was still a chance for Welfare to win it on 88 minutes when Craig Aspinall was picked out inside the box but his header from eight yards was straight at the goalkeeper.

Welfare first half: Watson, Walker, Simpkins, Dodd, Lucas, Ball, Bowkett, Snodin (Brown 44 mins), Baskerville, Lee, Sherburn.

Welfare second half: Watson, Walker, Arnold, Aspinall, Garner, Williamson, Williams, Brown, McFadden, Lee (Baskerville 62 mins), Sherburn.