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Winsford boss Eddy Haslam hails keeper Nathan Beckett after FA Vase win at Garforth Town

Winsford celebrate their winning extra-time goal

Garforth Town 1-2 Winsford United

By James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson)

Match Photos are HERE

Winsford United manager Eddy Haslam paid tribute to goalkeeper Nathan Beckett after a string of top saves denied Garforth Town in the visitors’ dramatic extra-time victory.
Second choice stopper Nathan Beckett was given a chance to impress in the end-to end FA Vase First Round encounter at Wheatley Park.
After a few poor results, the North West Counties League Premier Division strugglers boss Haslam chose to drop Andy Jones and field Beckett. The goalkeeper kept Winsford alive during the second half after debutant Sam Akeroyd had scored for Garforth.
Harry Noon equalised for Winsford with three minutes left before substitute James Rothwell won the tie for them deep into the second half of extra-time.
Haslam praised Beckett, but also said he believed his team were worthy winners.

Winsford boss Eddy Haslam

“He was tremendous today wasn’t he,” he told Sports Performer.

“Certainly in the first half he made two tremendous saves, but in the second period of extra time he came up with an absolutely superb save.
“There was a lot of talk of people not wanting him to play today and wanting the other keeper to play, but he was certainly first choice today and he was superb.
“In recent weeks with the form we felt we needed to have a change so we gave Nathan a go and he has risen to the occasion today.”
He added: “I thought (the equaliser) it was a matter of time if we carried on building our game, which we did.
“Even though Garforth scored I still felt we were in the game. It take a late goal, but if we kept pressing and playing the same way it was going to come and it did.
“In the extra time we were by far the better side. It could have been a high-scoring game
“We had chances in the first half and in the second half, but they’re the home side and you have to expect Garforth to come at us.
“We coped with it really well and overall I think we deserved the game.”
The first half was a pretty drab affair with Garforth’s American attacking midfielder Logan McDaniel wasting the Miners’ best chance after breaking through on goal – Beckett the saviour for Winsford with a smart save.
Midfielder David Gbemie went the closest for Winsford with a long range attempt.

Sam Akeroyd about to open the scoring for Garforth

Garforth broke the deadlock four minutes into the second half. Akeroyd, who came on as first half substitute for Josh Greenhalgh, held off two Winsford defenders before firing the ball into the top corner from the edge of the penalty area. Garforth then had further opportunities to kill the game off. Beckett denied Josh Cartman from point blank range after the striker latched onto Tawanda Rupere’s superb cross on the hour.
Beckett then created more headlines for himself by somehow tipping McDaniel’s powerful header, which seemed destined for the top corner, away from danger.
The game reached its closing stages and Winsford were gaining momentum and after a couple of half chances, Haslam’s young side got their equaliser. Garforth allowed Noon time and space to take the ball down and control it before he fired the ball into the bottom corner from eight yards.
The game sailed into extra-time and Winsford were in control. Garforth seemed to have run out of steam and the away side were causing all the problems. Noon thought he had scored again within a minute of the start of the extra 30 minutes with a low drive that flashed just wide.

Nathan Beckett

Winsford had to wait until the last five minutes of extra-time. Garforth had survived a couple of scares, but the home side only have themselves blame after failing to clear the ball during a scramble. Rothwell was the hero after slamming home at the fourth attempt inside the six-yard box.
Garforth still had time to respond and nearly did. Inside a mad final two minutes, Beckett brilliantly batted away Cartman’s powerful shot which Winsford initially managed to clear. The ball came back and Cartman was unlucky with another attempt as the ball cannoned back off the crossbar.
Rupere then fired the follow-up shot just over the bar and that was Garforth’s last chance and Winsford boss Haslam hopes his side can kick-on in the league, starting at Bootle on Tuesday night.
“It means a tremendous amount because we’re on a pretty bad run in the league and this is just a bonus to get into the next round of the Vase,” he said.
“By winning in cup matches you can build on it and start winning in the league and hopefully we’ll do that on Tuesday night.”
Garforth Town: Martens, Stohrer (Woodger 55), Misambu, Allen (captain), Hawksworth, Hilton (Helliwell HT), Rupere, McDaniel, Cartman, Bower, Greenhalgh (Ackroyd 32). Subs unused: Smith, Oyebanji. Winsford United: Beckett, M Jones, Lane, Gbemie (McNamara 109), J Jones, Constantine, Banda, Wareing (Rothwell 83), Hirst, Noon, Liddle (Westwood 68). Sub unused: Bush.Referee: P Sporne (Sheffield)Attendance: Man of the match: Nathan Beckett (Winsford United)

Ossett Albion make five new signings

By James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson)
Richard Tracey hopes Ossett Albion can start climbing the Evo Stik Division One North table.
Albion were four points adrift at the bottom of the table until the tension-filled 1-0 victory over Mossley on Wednesday night.
Ossett are one point behind Radcliffe Borough and Tracey has signed five vastly experienced players to try and lead Albion away from danger and asked on what his message for the players was ahead of tomorrow’s home clash with New Mills, Tracey said: “Do what we did on Wednesday night.
“We spoke to the players before the game on Wednesday and said we’re a quarter through the season and we have to wipe the slate clean.
“We have to forget we have had and this week we have made five new signings. Only one started on Wednesday. That was Daz Lucas, from Glasshoughton Welfare, who started on the right.
“Mark Truman (ex Wakefield FC) who was on the bench is another new signing. Frickley’s former captain Danny Walsh has joined us, but is unavailable until next week.
“There’s a couple more like Dom Riordan who is a former player here and Andy McManus who was captain here couple of seasons ago has re-signed.
“We’re getting competition for places and the depth in the squad and hopefully we’re moving forward.”
Tracey is unlikely to have Gary Middleton at his side tomorrow.
Middleton helped Tracey direct proceedings from the side-lines during the Mossley win, but he won’t be assisting him on a permanent basis.
“He was a player at Belper when I played there and in the second year at Belper he was a coach,” he said.
“Gary has stayed a good friend of mine and it is difficult because we haven’t got the budget to bring someone in. But I asked him because he’s a central defender and I’m a striker to come and have a look at us and contribute and be part of it.
“He did and he had a massive impact on the lads. He talked a lot of sense like he always has done. That’s why I chased him for a little bit for a bit of help.
“Gary plays in a veterans league and plays on a Saturday and has commitments. He was assistant manager at Maltby last year on a voluntary basis. He has a pure passion for football, but came in as a mate on Wednesday.
“We’ve love to have him here every game, but he has commitments and a young family.”

Farsley AFC can cope with mass suspensions, says Neil Parsley

Matt Dempsey (right) is banned from next Saturday

By James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson)
Neil Parsley is hopeful that Farsley AFC can cope when the four suspensions come into effort.
Adam Priestley begins a three match ban on Tuesday for his red card in the West Riding County Cup game at Goole, but he will be replaced by Aiden Savory who has recovered from a hamstring problem.
Parsley then has to contend with the bans for Ryan Serrant, centre-back Matt Dempsey and Simeon Bambrook after their sending-offs in the Northwich Victoria clash which descended into chaos.
Serrant faces missing one match, while Dempsey and Bambrook are set to miss three.
The referee has been reported following an incident in the tunnel at half-time, but Parsley has to pick up the pieces and has clarified the James Riley situation.
Riley has not featured since the FA Trophy defeat at Kendal Town on October 5th.
“We have brought Ross Daly in, but really if the truth was known that because of Robbie O’Brien’s ankle injury on Saturday,” he said.
“The centre-back situation is more of a problem to me. James has a problem with a shoulder, it’s been ongoing and its because of wear and tear in his shoulder.
“Him and his wife had a baby in the summer and they put the operation off. But, the injury has got worse and he’s not confident with it. He felt his performances were suffering because he didn’t have confidence in his shoulder.
“Having said that, I’ve spoken to Rilo and he says he has been training.
“I’ve still got seven days and the one problem is centre-back and Rilo could play.
“I’m not ruling out bringing anyone in though.”
Anthony Lloyd is another player who has vanished from Farsley’s side, but the former Guiseley right-back remains with the club.
Lloyd hasn’t played for Farsley since early September and Parsley said: “Lloydy is having a bit of time out.
“He’s had a month out as a little morale booster for his wife as he helping her out with a few man jobs.
“He is still registered with us so he could be back.”

Billy Miller: Season going to plan for Harrogate Railway

Harrogate boss Billy Miller (left)

By James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson)

Harrogate Railway chief Billy Miller believes his side’s Evo Stik Division One North campaign is going to plan.
Railway sit in mid-table after Monday night’s dramatic 2-1 victory over Northwich Victoria which was their first win at Station View since the end of August.
Miller’s team had endured a tough September which saw them pick up one league point – at Darlington where Rail drew 0-0.
But, Harrogate twice had to play with ten men for 80 minutes after an early red card and Miller is happy with the progress made.
“It’s a point a game and we have 14 points from 11 games so as far as we’re concerned we’re three points ahead of schedule,” he told Sports Performer.
“We have a decent run of games coming up, starting on Saturday at home to Padiham which I know will be a difficult game as we had a 1-1 draw there.
“But, it is too easy to underestimate teams and saying we should be getting that and getting this.
“We have Radcliffe away on Tuesday night and they have come into a run of form as well and then we have Ossett Albion and New Mills in amongst all that.
“If we can pick up our 20 points by Christmas time I think that would put us roughly where we want to be and at a similar stage to where we were last season.
“After that we’ll kick on from there. We have brought some good lads in. We have signed Steve Bromley from Knaresborough Town. He scores a lot of goals so he’s come in.
“We’ve signed Joel Dixon from Frickley so fingers crossed that now is our time.
“September was a combination of bad luck and games taking their toll and I think we played some tough teams last month as well.
“Lancaster I’m sure will be up there or there-about’s. I thought Mossley played really well against us and have now kicked on.”
In midweek, Jesus Martin-Farina scored for Harrogate early-on before a second half equaliser for Northwich looked to have secured a draw for the visitors.
But, Lawrence Hunter forced a late winner and Miller said his side got their rewards.
“I think we got what we deserved from the game,” he said.
“Northwich are a very strong side that will be up there at the end of the season, but we set our stall out quite early on and went 4-4-2 against them.
“Jesus came back up top with Nathan Cartman and we had signed a player called Joel Dixon and he was sort of the missing link for us as he drove us on from the middle of the park and did really well for us.”

Rob Hunter backs Glasshoughton Welfare to turn home form around

By James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson)
Glasshoughton Welfare manager Rob Hunter is adamant that his side can overcome their inability to win at Leeds Road.
Glasshoughton have lost all six of their home games, but on the road Welfare have won five times in the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division out of ten matches.
Their home woes continued on Tuesday night when Retford United beat them 6-1, but Hunter believes they can turn their problems around.
He said: “It is difficult to say (why we can’t win at home) because we went to Albion Sports and put in a really solid performance and unfortunate not to win when we conceded in the third minute of injury-time.
“We went into the Retford game in confident mood and started the game well and then got thumped for six.
“I can’t put my finger on it. I don’t know why we have conceded so many goals at home, maybe its down to the fact that our first ten games were away from home.
“I would say we have an awful lot of home games to come and we have spent an awful lot of time travelling and we have brought a couple of new faces to the team and they haven’t really settled down yet.
“I don’t think we’re a million miles away, I’ll still back myself to get this team in the top ten, which is where I said we would be at the beginning of the season.
“We have a tough game on Saturday against Tadcaster, but after that we have a run of a lot of teams who are in similar position to ourselves. If we can put two or three performances that we have put in recent into one or two results at home then we’ll kick on.
“I believe in the character in the guys at Glasshoughton and I’m confident we can step up to the plate and turn it around. There are some good characters in the changing room – the likes of Daz Young, Alex Low and Liam Tuck and Mark and I have got to get our ideas right to try and pick the lads up for Saturday.
“Those three types of characters will help us to do that.”
Hunter has brought in former Welsh Youth International Dalton Harris recently and he had Venezuelan midfielder Hiliar Serrao in his starting line-up on Tuesday.
Serrao is currently studying in this country and Hunter said: “It’s probably a first, the South American to play for Glasshoughton Welfare, the last time a South American came to Leeds I think it was Alex Sabella!
“He’s an exciting talent, but it will take him two or three games to find himself at this level and settle down with the players.
“We saw glimpses of how fast he is and quick his feet are. I’m sure he’ll do very well for us.”
Serrao is available to play again against Tadcaster on Saturday, a game that has plenty of connections between the two teams.
Leading goalscorer Calum Ward played for Tadcaster last season, while Hunter and his assistant Smitheringale were a major part of the success Tadcaster enjoyed from 2009 to 2012.
The pair were Tadcaster manager Paul Marshall’s assistant as the club rose from the bottom of the NCEL Division One table to the top of the Premier Division.
But Hunter says: “Things have changed, it is a very different team that was there when I was involved.
“Obviously there are three or four players that are still there, the likes of Matthew Sparkes, Nick Thompson and Terry Taylor.
“There are few players from mine and Mark Smitheringale’s time there. There is also good people in the likes of Kevin Derry and Nobby Clarke, who I’ve known for years and years.
“Obviously it would be lovely to put one across Marshy.”

Ossett Albion earn crucial win over Mossley

Richard Tracey

Ossett Albion 1-0 Mossley AFC

By James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson)

A first minute goal from Dale Kelly brought bottom-placed Ossett Albion back to life in the Evo Stik Division North – much to the delight of player-manager Richard Tracey.
Ossett survived a barrage of second half pressure to earn a crucial victory that puts them one point behind Radcliffe Borough, who beat Ossett 3-0 on Saturday.
Albion goalkeeper Adam Rhodes was called upon to make a few excellent saves on a windy night at Dimple Wells to ensure Ossett picked only their second league win of the season.
Manager Tracey said: “We have worked hard on our shape in training and worked hard on pressing the ball and defending.
“Don’t get me wrong they had a couple of chances. They have tried to go round the keeper and rolled one into the side-netting and Rhodesy has made a couple of saves.
“But, in the end I think we deserved to win tonight.
“We have looked more solid, we worked harder for each other and we looked like a team for really the first time this year.
“It was a phenomenal start. We got them on the back-foot early doors and had a couple of half-chances before getting the early goal. I suppose what has been pleasing is that we have defended a lead for a long, long time.
“We had spells in front like Bamber where there were seven minutes to go and got turned over. We defended for 88 minutes today. It’s a shame we didn’t get the second goal because it would have taken a little bit of pressure off.
“I think one to eleven today, adding the five who were on the bench, everyone put in 110% and they got their rewards.”
With the windy conditions playing a part, Mossley struggled to attack during the first half and within 30 seconds of the start, Albion almost scored.

Adam Muller

Former Guiseley striker Adam Muller, who had an excellent game, found space down the left-side and moved towards the penalty before passing to Kelly. Kelly drove his effort low and hard, but goalkeeper Russell Saunders turned the ball for a corner. The corner was cleared, but the ball fell to midfielder Paddy McGuire whose cross was spilled by Saunders. Kelly was in the right place and he volleyed the ball into the back of the net from close range.
Ossett had further chances. Niall O’Brien saw his powerful free kick blocked by a firm wall and Muller also caused a few problems and was being continually fouled by Mossley defenders.
Tracey’s side, which contained Darol Lucas who played the whole game having played 90 minutes for Glasshoughton Welfare on Tuesday night against Retford United, failed to take full advantage of the wind and Mossley almost made them pay.
Wayne Welbeck should have scored in the opening act of the second half after rounding Rhodes. Welbeck made a mess of the simple tap-in and could only find the side-netting.
Lucas had Ossett’s only real chance of the half when his low shot was easily saved.
Ossett did defence well, but they had to rely on Rhodes on a few occasions. On the hour mark, Rhodes palmed John Bennett’s strike for a corner.
Rhodes came to the rescue again in the 72nd minute when Dougie Carroll found space and looked set to score until Rhodes made a fantastic save.
Carroll was then made to rue another missed chance in the final moments of the game. Carroll broke through down the left-wing and went one-on-one with Rhodes, but the goalkeeper was able to make an important stop with his right leg to turn the ball away from danger.
That was the last real opportunity and Ossett were able to celebrate a victory that Tracey admitted was a huge relief, ahead of Saturday’s home game with New Mills.
He said: “I’ve being in football long enough to know it’s a results business and I feel the pressure and certainly I was feeling it, but we tried to take that off the lads to allow them to play with freedom.
“Today we got that result which we needed.
“(On whether everyone was downbeat after the Radcliffe game) It was and it wasn’t. It was because we got beat by Radcliffe, it wasn’t because I knew we had gone there with five players missing. We ended up playing Tyrone who is a defender, playing upfront. We had no centre-forwards.
“We didn’t turn up and it was a catalogue of rubbish in terms of a performance.”
Ossett Albion: Rhodes, Holt (captain), Jackson, Owen, Gay, McGuire, Lucas, O’Brien, Muller, Kelly (Robinson 80), Metcalfe (Truman 82). Subs unused: Durham, Jones, Nicholson.
Mossley AFC: Saunders (captain), Haslem (Broadbent 71), Horne (McCarthy 61), McGrath, Anderson, Hopper, Keogh, Bennett, Welbeck, Carroll, Gardner. Subs unused: McDonnell, Thewliss.
Referee: A Pashley (Chesterfield)
Attendance: 76
Man of the match: Adam Rhodes (Ossett Albion)