NCEL: Armthorpe Welfare ride their luck but grab a stoppage time winner

Sub Josh Bowkett grabbed the winner late on to ensure Welfare made it four victories on the bounce.

The result moves Armthorpe up to sixth in the table and a point off fourth spot.

"Three points are all that matter, but I thought we rode our luck," admitted Carmody.

"I thought we were lethargic and went through the motions and we didn’t repeat the energy and fluency of previous games.

"I can’t say we didn’t work hard because we did. Everyone put in the effort but for some reason we just didn’t reach the standards we’ve set.”

Welfare ‘keeper Alfie Stevens-Neale set the tone for much for the game in the 14th minute when he was called on to save a low shot from Callum Mawbey.

And not long after, Stevens-Neale collected a 20-yard shot from Danny Wood.

Dronfield went even closer just before the half-hour mark when Mark Fereday lfted the ball over Stevens-Neale but it came back off the crossbar and into the grateful stopper's arms.

Although they had rarely threatened, Welfare had claims for a penalty waved away when Josh O’Neill’s cross struck Connor Chappell’s arm inside the box.

Just before the break, Wood broke away down the Dronfield right and cut into the box before seeing his angled shot diverted away from goal by Stevens-Neale.

Dronfield took the lead just after the restart when Wood played in Mawbey and he slotted beyond Stevens-Neale.

Mawbey shot wide when well placed before Welfare finally threatened on the hour, but Adam Baskerville’s looping header from a short corner dropped just over the bar.

Aspinall tried his luck from just outside the box but his effort was comfortably collected by Lewis Naylor in the Dronfield goal.

Welfare finally got back into the game on 73 minutes when Luke Williams did brilliantly down the left of the box to float the ball to the far post where Baskerville headed into an empty net.

Both sides pushed for a winner late on but it was Welfare who got it when Bowkett's first-time shot nestled just inside the left hand post.

Carmody added: “It’s harsh on Dronfield as they were good value for something out of the game.

“But how many times have we been on the reverse of that this season?

“My forwards fed on scraps throughout the game, but again the two goals we scored were very good team goals.

“The late goal is a reward for a group of lads that never give up.

“They never know when they’re beaten.

“I’ve talked a lot about togetherness and that’s got us though this game.

Welfare are back in league action this Saturday when they host Nostell MW.