NCEL: Armthorpe Welfare move level with Rossington Main following Hallam draw

Will Ramsay marked his return from injury by scoring a deserved 88th minute equaliser to earn Armthorpe Welfare a 1-1 draw at home to Hallam.
Action from Armthorpes 1-1 draw against Hallam. Photo: Steve PennockAction from Armthorpes 1-1 draw against Hallam. Photo: Steve Pennock
Action from Armthorpes 1-1 draw against Hallam. Photo: Steve Pennock

Ramsay came off the bench and steered home a fine header inside the far post from fellow substitute Joe Smith’s inviting cross.

Armthorpe might have grabbed all three points had it not been for Hallam goalkeeper Dave Darwent who produced a stunning save to keep out Luke Williams’ close range effort deep into stoppage time.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The draw moved 13th placed Welfare level on points with rivals Rossington Main in the Division One table.

Welfare had been looking to avenge the 3-1 defeat at Sandygate Road the previous week but found themselves a goal behind after nine minutes when a free-kick from deep was met by the head of Connor Chapel who sent a looping header into Liam Copley’s top right hand corner.

Armthorpe‘s first real chance of the game came on 42 minutes, Josh Gibbons sending a powerful header from a Gary Collier cross straight into the grateful hands of Darwent.

Darwent produced a fine save on the stroke of half time to deny Armthorpe an equaliser, pushing away Alan Jackson’s effort.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Copley then produced a fine save just after the break to prevent Callum Geaves and keep the scoreline at 1-0.

Armthorpe started to assert some pressure with Luke Williams sending an angled effort flashing across the face of goal before Aspinall saw his dipping shot from the edge of the penalty area go just over the bar.

Substitute Chris Simpkins then almost had an instant impact with a shot on the angle that whistled past the post but Armthorpe eventually got their just reward with the late equaliser.

Armthorpe boss Michael Carmody was pleased with the draw but felt his side might have come away with all three points.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He said: “I thought Hallam were the better side in the opening 30 minutes. Although they had a lot of the ball they only created created two chances, one being the goal, which I felt we could have done better with with.

“I give my boys a lot of credit for digging in when needed. As the half went on we had one or two good opportunities to level.

“I felt that we dominated the second period and had a number of good chances.

“Just when I thought it wasn’t going to happen Will Ramsay scores with a superb header.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We could and probably should have gone on and won as we had two glorious chances,” he added.

“The save from their goalkeeper to stop Luke scoring was top drawer. I have to say that I thinks he’s kept them in it in the second half.”

This weekend sees Armthorpe travel to take on title chasing and in-form Eccleshill United.

The hosts, currently third in the table and just one point off the summit, have won ten and drawn one of their last 12 league outings, which shows the size of the task awaiting Welfare.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Rossington Main, whose game at Worsbrough Bridge Athletic was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, play their first game of 2018 at Campion.

The two teams drew 1-1 on the opening day of the season when Jason Stokes grabbed a second half equaliser to cancel out the visitors’ first half opener.

The hosts go into the game just outside the play-off places despite losing four of their last six league outings.

Maltby Main had to settle for a point as Staveley MW grabbed a later equaliser in a 1-1 Premier Division draw at Muglet Lane.

The Miners had edged in front on 63 minutes when Steven McDonnell curled a low shot into the bottom corner.

Adam Baskerville’s 83rd minute penalty earned the visitors a point.

Related topics: