Toolstation NCEL Division One
Armthorpe Welfare 1-1 Hallam
Hero Will Ramsay rescued a draw for Armthorpe. Picture: Steve Pennock
Will Ramsay marked his return to the squad after injury with an 88th minute equaliser as Welfare came from a goal down to draw with Hallam.
Mike Carmody made a couple of changes to the side with Josh Gibbons returning in place of the suspended Gary Lumley and Josh Dodd and Alan Jackson coming into the side in place of Micky Collins and Chris Simpkins. Ramsay was on the bench.
Hallam took the lead with their first meaningful attack of the game when a free-kick from just inside their own half was flicked on for Connor Chappel to loop a header into the top right hand corner from 12 yards.
Playing with the wind advantage in the first half Hallam often stretched the Welfare defence but Liam Copley wasn’t unduly troubled with several efforts flying off target.
Welfare had their first real attempt at goal on 42 minutes when Gibbons met a Gary Collier corner with a powerful header which flew straight at ‘keeper Dave Darwent on the line.
Almost immediately Hallam broke with Jake Curry getting the better of Steve Garner before flicking the ball over Gibbons inside the box but Gibbons did enough to prevent Curry getting in a clean shot with Copley able to make the save.
Again play broke straight to the other end with Craig Aspinall sending Jackson clear but his shot from the edge of the box was pushed away by Darwent.
Four minutes after half time Copley saved well from Calum Greaves with Welfare replying immediately with Luke Williams flashing an angled shot across the face of goal.
Ramsay replaced Dodd before Aspinall curled a dipping 18 yard shot just over the bar on 52 minutes and second substitute Simpkins fired an angled shot just wide not long after entering the fray on 69 minutes.
Welfare finally got the reward they deserved on 88 minutes. Third substitute Joe Smith sent over an inviting cross from the right that Ramsay met with a header from just inside the box to steer the ball just inside the far post.
Two minutes into stoppage time Ramsay sent Collier clear inside the box but his effort from 12 yards sailed agonisingly wide of the right hand post.
There was still time for another chance for Welfare as five minutes into added time Gibbons played a free-kick into the box which fell for Luke Williams six yards out but his close range effort was brilliantly kept out by Darwent.
The Teams
Armthorpe Welfare: Copley, Selassie (Smith 79), Bucknall, O’Neill, Gibbons, Garner, Dodd (Ramsay 51), Aspinall (69), Jackson, Collier, Williams. Sub unused: Lyon.
Hallam: Darwent, Myers, Tootle, Roebuck, McCarthy, Flint, Matt Ord (Greaves 18), Carrig, Currie (West 59 mins), Chappel, Howson (Griffiths 63).