Ossett Albion reach West Riding County Cup second round

Richard Tracey

Glasshoughton Welfare 1-4 Ossett Albion

By James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson)

Player-manager Richard Tracey believes last night’s West Riding County Cup first round victory at Glasshoughton Welfare was just what struggling Ossett Albion needed.
Ossett are in the Evo Stik Division One North relegation zone, two points above bottom-placed Radcliffe Borough who they face on Saturday.
Ossett had just won once this season until last night and things started badly when Toolstation NCEL Premier Division top scorer Calum Ward put Glasshoughton ahead.
Luke Durham equalised for Ossett and former Farsley AFC striker Ben Jones put them in front from the penalty spot.
Durham added his second goal before player-assistant manager Adam Muller sealed the win in the closing stages and Tracey was pleased with side’s performance.
“I think it was a much-needed confidence boost,” he told Sports Performer.
“In the first half it was a pretty average performance as I don’t think we defended well and looked vulnerable.
“Glasshoughton started very brightly. They came out and got the early goal, but we got the quick reply which I think was important.
“The lads were up for it. They worked incredibly hard against Curzon on Saturday with ten men for 60 minutes and they knew they had to put the same work ethic in tonight to make sure we got the result.
“But, in the end it was about getting the result and we have done that in what could have been a banana skin and its pleasing as we are going into a big game on Saturday with a win under our belts.”
Glasshoughton were without club captain Darrell Young (suspended), Liam Tuck and Darol Lucas, whilst Joel Freeston was on the bench which meant former Peterborough United and Wales under 19s youngster Dalton Harris was given his first start along with Tim Curtis.
The home side raced into a fourth minute lead. Ward got in behind centre-halves Sam O’Neill and Tyrone Gay and lobbed the onrushing goalkeeper Adam Rhodes to open the scoring.
But, the lead lasted just four minutes. Ex Harrogate Town winger Durham’s deflected shot beat Paul Hagreen.

Calum Ward

Within another four minutes a terrible error gave Ossett the opportunity to go ahead for the first time in the match. John Hirst’s back-pass to Hagreen was not strong enough and Dale Kelly nipped in to take the ball and was brought down by the goalkeeper. Striker Jones, who developed a reputation for being a penalty kick expert while with Farsley, stepped up and sent Hagreen the wrong way to score his first goal for Ossett.
Albion were in control and Durham added his second goal with a half-volley which deceived Hagreen on the half-hour mark.
Whilst the first half had four goals, the second half was a non-event. Returning Ossett captain Stefan Holt forced the save of the match from Hagreen, who tipped the right-back’s goal-bound 30-yard effort onto the crossbar. But, other than that, chances were few and far between.
With seven minutes remaining, Ossett finally killed the game. Experienced forward Muller held off several defenders to waltz into the box and place the ball past Hagreen.
Glasshoughton have now lost two games on the spin and assistant manager Mark Smitheringale said: “I thought it was a poor game, certainly from our point of view, littered with errors, frustrating errors.
“If you look over the 90 minutes, like Saturday’s game with Thackley, apart from a mad ten minutes, we have matched the opposition in terms of possession and work rate.
“But we have conceded some poor goals again which were all unnecessary. There were still a lot of positives, we made a lot of changes from Saturday and some people who came in did well and some did not do so well.
“But, despite the result, we’re pleased with the overall performance.”
Ossett can now look forward to Radcliffe Borough on Saturday, but on the subject of the County Cup, Tracey admits he wants to go far in it.
“Looking at the fixtures we have a really good run through to the semi-final,” he added.
“We have got Knaresborough in the next round and then Barnoldswick or Albion Sports before I believe Bradford Park Avenue, Harrogate Town or Halifax in the semi-finals
“For us, our objective is to get to the semi-finals.”
Glasshoughton Welfare: Hagreen, Chappell, Hirst (Sunley 78), Edwards, Low (captain), Donnelly, Beaston, Corley (McGrory 71), C Ward, Harris, Curtis (Freeston 53).
Ossett Albion: Rhodes, Holt (captain) (Jackson 78), Nicholson, O’Neill, Gay, Hayton, McGuire, O’Brien, Jones (Tonkinson 75), Kelly (Muller 57), Durham. Sub unused: Tracey.
Referee: T Nield (Holmfirth)
Attendance: 71
Man of the match: Ben Jones (Ossett Albion)