NCEL: Armthorpe Welfare up to fifth in Division One after another last gasp win

Action from Armthorpe v Nostell MW. Photo: Steve Pennock

Mike Carmody’s in-form side beat Nostell Miners Welfare 2-1 at Church Street to make it five league wins on the spin.

Welfare’s latest victory saw them climb to fifth in Division One and they are kept out of the promotion places on goal-difference only.

There was little to choose between the teams in the first half as both sides battled for dominance.

Ryan Poskitt had the first real effort on goal in the sixth minute but saw his low 18-yard drive drift wide of the post. A slip by Steve Garner let in Notell’s Richard Collier but Alfie Stevens-Neal snuffed out the chance.

Luke Williams watched his effort from the edge of the box zip over the crossbar and Adam Baskerville’s shot was comfortably dealt with by the visitors’ goalkeeper.

Jack Bonsor, who had come on for the injured Jordan Lindley, fired wide from 25 yards before Nostell responded with Stevens-Neale pushing Collier’s 20-yard effort over the crossbar three minutes before the break.

Collier though was not to be denied when he gave Nostell the lead in first half stoppage time by tucking home a low shot from six yards.

Armthorpe started the second half on the front foot. Baskerville volleyed just over the bar and former Welfare defender Jack Waldren did well to block Craig Aspinall’s close range effort.

Welfare grabbed the equaliser they had been threatening on 57 minutes.

Reece Arnold won the ball in his own half before advancing down the left and finding Baskerville who played in Poskitt to rifle home a superb 25-yard effort.

Arnold came to Armthorpe’s rescue by clearing off the line as Nostell looked to regain the lead.

Rory Millar came off the bench to make his debut and was soon in the thick of the action by picking out Baskervllle in the box whose shot was saved.

With the game entering stoppage time, Armthorpe grabbed all three points with a swift attack.

Williams picked out the run of Baskerville who clipped a superb effort over the advancing goalkeeper for his eighth goal in seven starts.

Welfare make the short trip to Sheffield to take on promotion rivals Hallam this weekend in what is another huge game for Carmody’s in-form side.