Armthorpe Welfare 2-4 Shirebrook Town

Armthorpe Welfare 2-4 Shirebrook Town

NCEL (Division One)

Wednesday 6th April 2022

Sometimes things don't always work out as intended and that's what happened here as a sluggish Armthorpe Welfare were comfortably beaten by Shirebrook Town in their final home game of the 2021/22 campaign.

After what's been a relatively okay season spent mostly in the top half, Wellie knew that three points from this game in-hand against their Derbyshire counterparts would put them back into the Top 10. They were on course to achieve it as Rhys Plater's early goal ensured they were ahead at half-time.

Nevertheless, that's as good as it got because in the second half came the sort of collapse which must have left gaffer Lee Morris scratching his head in frustration.

Shirebrook scored not once, twice or three times, but four times - all in the space of a half-hour spell (along with creating a number of other opportunities) to ensure they took three points back to Derbyshire and close the gap on Armthorpe in the league table.

Certainly when things are going better at Church Street under Morris' stewardship a few years down the line from now; he's just took over as chairman-manager, then he'll reflect on nights like this and see how much progress has been made but for now things will have to be a work in progress.

In fairness, Armthorpe did have quite a few absentees for this game - including ex-DRFC academy duo Conner Williamson and Joe Pugh. Top scorer for the campaign Adam Baskerville was also recently lured to FC Humber United (who were officially relegated after losing to Selby Town on Tuesday) so he's been absent for a while. Whether he'll return, who knows?

Shirebrook got things underway and had a shot directly from kick-off cleared the upright of 'keeper Tom Chambers before a free-kick not long afterwards from 20 yards out was similarly off-target as Shirebrook enjoyed much of the play inside the first five minutes.

Armthorpe soon went down the other end and opened the scoring in a goal which was more of a 'keeper error than anything else. Lewis Hill tried to put his foot straight through Rhys Plater's effort, missed the ball spectacularly, and it subsequently rolled into the net. It's not one that he'll want to see again but the bad news from his perspective is the game was being filmed.

Undeterred by having gone behind, Shirebrook continued to give a reasonable account of themselves. Much of play from both teams was short on quality at times but the visitors continued to push forward whenever they could and Chambers was forced into a couple of saves - including a speculative long shot which he held at the second attempt.

Kenan McKenzie was arguably the visitors' brightest spark and he went closest to an equaliser (up to this point) when he got tight to the byline and burst past Armthorpe's right-back on the half-hour mark before watching his thunderous effort from a tight angle clip the woodwork.

A series of long-throws by Shirebrook's No.9 (Nathan Jessop) also put Armthorpe's defence under pressure about half-a-dozen times with Chambers and the defence ahead of him doing just enough to hang on, whilst the Derbyshire outfit were left angry at the referee in the last major incident of the first half when McKenzie burst onto a through ball and seemed to have been brought down by Chambers inside the penalty area. The referee was unmoved and waved appeals away, and whilst I've no doubt the Shirebrook man was seeking to invite some contact, it's hard to deny that there definitely was contact - and a lot of other officials might have been blowing their whistle, booking the 'keeper and awarding the spot-kick, if they'd been in that same scenario!

It didn't matter in the end though because Shirebrook remained in the ascendancy after the interval, certainly in terms of things created, and just moments after their own 'keeper pulled off a save to prevent Armthorpe from going 2-0 up, the visitors got back on level terms.

Chambers did well initially to deny an opponent in a one-on-one but the subsequent loose ball from that incident, coupled with an untidy tackle by a defender in a blue shirt, meant that the referee was left with no alternative but to award a penalty and McKenzie sent Chambers the wrong way to equalise.

This game was very much in the balance but Shirebrook, aided by some substitutions, continued to win the majority of the second balls and scrap that little bit harder in the middle of the park which meant they were the team who continued to create more openings.

Before they actually went 2-1 up, Chambers somehow thwarted No.16 (Fabian Johnson) in another gilt-edged chance and the visitors also saw a goal disallowed for offside.

However, it wasn't enough for Armthorpe's defence to take heed of the warning signs which were flashing before their own eyes and when Kyle Gaunt was allowed to cut inside from a tight angle inside the area and into a shooting position on 70 minutes, he unleashed a drilled effort which flew into the bottom corner.

In terms of endeavor and effort it was what Shirebrook deserved and having completed the turnaround, things quickly got even better as Josh Parfitt (to the absolute delight of a few traveling fans) rifled an effort into the same part of goal to make it 3-1 only a couple of minutes later.

Armthorpe were no doubt stunned at this point but despite having not played anywhere near as well as they know they can perform, they still got themselves back into the game. Shirebrook's defence this season could best be described as 'leaky' and with their entire midfield having failed to get anywhere near Chambers' clearance to a team-mate from a goal-kick, the ball was quickly worked out wide and then forward to where Aidan Thomas poked it past the 'keeper and into the net with what was his first touch of the ball having only just come on as a substitute. 3-2.

Hopes of an Armthorpe comeback were eradicated almost as quickly as they'd been created, however, because less than five minutes later Shirebrook scored again with a goal awarded by the old silverfox who was running the line. A corner (one of about 10 which they enjoyed) was headed goalwards and despite the best efforts of a defender on the line who seemed to get the ball away, the linesman waved his flag around to alert the referee and signal the ball had crossed the line.

That was that - and Shirebrook had the points which, certainly on the balance of chances, they deserved!

There will have no doubt have been a few frustrations in the Wellie dressing room afterwards considering, even in spite of not playing particularly well, they led for a while and maintained more than a reasonable chance of getting something out the game up until the last goal went in.

Whilst achieving a top half position now looks highly unlikely with one game to go (simply by virtue of the number of teams above them), Armthorpe will be hoping to end the season on a positive note by getting three points when they travel to already-relegated Clipstone on Saturday!