Main put their disappointing 3-0 league opener defeat behind them with a deserved 1-0 win at home to Nostell.
Manager Steve Adams made five changes from Saturday’s game at Long Eaton with David Shepherd and James Ellis dropping out of the side, Paul Staniforth and Scott McDonald came in to replace them. Matt Wragg was promoted from the bench, replacing the injured Scott Somerville, John Beggs dropped to the bench to make way for Danny Patterson and Justin Westoby replaced Aaron Boyd on the bench. Adams brought in a new keeper in the form of Steve Hattersley to make his Main debut.
Main stunned the visitors with a great goal after only seven minutes when Staniforth stepped up and curled a free kick over the wall and into the bottom corner. Welfare ‘keeper Sam Dobbs made a token effort to get near the ball but he was well beaten.
Main could have doubled their lead in the thirteenth minute when Hattersley launched a huge kick down the field. Wragg flicked the ball on but Rob Branagan’s header was straight into the arms of Dobbs.
A minute later Staniforth fired another free kick wide of the post with Dobbs scrambling to cover.
The visitors’ first attempt on goal came in the sixteenth minute when Oli Johnson controlled the ball on the edge of the main penalty area but his shot on the turn was palmed away from danger by Hattersley.
On the half hour mark Hattersley showed his bravery by diving at the feet of Neil Beardsmore as he cut in from the wing and Welfare would have been level had it not been for a excellent save by Hattersley, tipping the ball over the bar following McDonald’s block from Johnson’s shot.
Three minutes from time Patterson raced down the wing and curled the ball into the area. Branagan rose to head but it was straight at Dobbs.
Hattersley again denied the visitors, this time palming away Matt Dawson’s close range header.
The second half started quieter than the first with the first effort coming ten minutes in, David Nicholas heading against a Maltby post with Hattersley rooted to the spot. McDonald, however, was alert to the danger and thumped the ball clear.

In the fifty seventh minute, Main had two great chances to double their lead, Dickman firing a shot towards goal that Matt Denton managed to clear away for a corner. From the resulting corner Mason floated the ball into the near post and Branagan’s over head kick was deflected over for another corner.
On the hour mark Nicholas squandered a great chance for the visitors, firing high over the ball from close range after opting for power rather than placement. Two minutes later Beardsmore’s deep cross was met by Johnson at the back post but his header was easily saved by Hattersley.
From the resulting save Hattersley sent the ball long down field, Wragg headed the ball to Branagan who played the ball back to the tall striker but Wragg’s effort flew over the bar.
Main then had two more great chances. First, Mason was unable to divert the ball into the goal from Branagan’s cross and then Dobbs was forced to palm away Branagan’s downward header following Mason’s cross.
With twenty minutes remaining, Hattersley saved easily from Darren Rushton. The Main keeper thumped the ball down field to Branagan, he controlled and then was fouled by Denton which brought out the night’s first yellow card.
Staniforth stepped up to take the free kick but this time the wall did its job. The Main skipper then hooked the ball into the area on the second attempt but Mason was in an offside position.
Nostell were again denied by Hattersley as he palmed Paul Bedford’s cross and Sean Lee was forced to clear the danger with the Main goal empty.
With two minutes remaining, Neil Samardijza fired a long throw into the Maltby area but Nicholas’s header flew wide of the target.
In second half injury time Patterson broke out of his own half and played Branagan through on goal but he was tackled by Denton. Branagan managed to pass the ball to Wragg but his shot was blocked by the elbow of Dobbs and out for a corner.

Maltby Main: Steve Hattersley, Sean Lee, Paul Staniforth, Scott McDonald, Danny Reilly, Chris Dickman, Danny Patterson, Mike Baker, Matt Wragg, Rob Branagan, Greg Mason.

Unused Subs: John Beggs, Danny White, Justin Westoby.