Main_v_Glasshoughton_Welfare_19_04

Main went into their relegation six-pointer with already relegated Glasshoughton Welfare fresh after their game away at Eccelshill United was called off, knowing that, providing other results went their way, a win would virtually guarantee Premier Division football at Muglet Lane next season.

With several changes - Korey Nix came in for the injured Darren Green and Jovan Maric in for the unavailable Scott Somerville, Main also had young defender Danny Reilly back in the heart of defence in place of Alex Wilson and Mike Baker replaced Nat McHale who also dropped to the bench. Freescoring midfielder, Carl Thornton was also unavailable.

Main set about the visitors and had an early penalty appeal turned down in the seventh minute when Danny Payne raced onto Mike Baker’s through ball. The home striker was tackled by Chris Coombes and the referee waved play on.

In the eleventh minute Chris Dickman tried his luck from long range but Welfare ‘keeper Dave Whittlestone saved easily.

After fifteen minutes Nicky Darker won the ball from Colan Leung and crossed it high into the area. The ball was met by Jovan Maric but his header was straight at Whittlestone.

Main skipper Paul Staniforth stepped up to take a free kick, given following Rich Batley’s foul on Payne, in a great goal scoring position but he fired the ball over the bar.

On the half hour mark Staniforth rose to meet Dickman’s corner but his header went over the bar as Main failed to capitalise on their superiority.

Glasshoughton’s first real effort came in the thirty second minute when James Wadsworth dispossessed Stevie Little but his shot was straight at Main keeper Gerard Bowtell-Harris.

Harris was brave to dive at the feet of Wadsworth as he sprung the offside trap in the thirty eighth minute.

Wadsworth had another chance on the stroke of halftime but he fired high and wide of the Main goal.

Main started the second half as they did the first with Payne shooting just wide of the post from the edge of the area in the fifty second minute.

Ten minutes later Whittlestone pulled off a great save when he tipped the ball round the post and out for a corner following Payne’s shot from Korey Nix’s square ball.

Main finally took a deserved lead in the sixty fifth minute when Payne controlled Dickman’s through ball and side footed the ball home from a tight angle. Paul Young was unable to clear the ball only managing to smash the ball into the roof of the net.

Main doubled their lead in the 4 minutes later when Staniforth controlled Darker’s throw in, turned in the area and curled the ball into the far bottom corner.

Dickman almost got himself on the score sheet two minutes later when he vollied Darker’s cross but the ball flew just wide of the visitors goal.

Maric found himself clear through on goal in the eightieth minute but his shot was tipped over the bar for a corner.

Payne went looking for his second goal of the game in the eighty third minute when he collected Maric’s square ball but his shot curled wide of the upright.

Main: Gerrard Bowtell-Harris, Mike Baker, Paul Staniforth (Capt), Nicky Darker, Danny Reilly, Steve Little (Alex Wilson 87), Danny Payne, Chris Dickman, Jovan Maric, Korey Nix, Danny White.

Unused Subs: Nathan McHale, Ian Davenport.