By: Paul Waterhouse
There was a decent turnout at the Horsfall Community Stadium to watch the Reserves pick up their first three points of the season, against Kellingley Welfare.
The visitors arrived with a 100% record having won both of their opening two games. Meanwhile, Avenue were looking for a first win as they had picked up a solitary point from their two fixtures.
Avenue started well by forcing several corners, but all were dealt comfortably by Welfare, whose defensive line contained a few tall defenders that could cope with the aerial threat. Both sides were playing the ball to feet quite well, but it was Avenue who posed the greater threat, but nothing to show for it. Then, as had happened at Wortley in the previous game, a mistake led to Avenue conceding. Losing possession in a crucial area, allowed Welfare to attack and a speculative drive from one of their forwards was only parried by Luke Morris in the Avenue goal, and the loose ball was tucked home.
However, Morris made a good save to keep the scoreline at 0-1, and from then on, it was Avenue who started to dominate, pressing for an equaliser. Michael Douglas was the first to be denied and then it was the turn of Oskar Wota to have his effort well saved by the Welfare goalkeeper.
More Avenue corners came and the pressure built, but their reward finally came in the 38th minute, when a scramble in the penalty area saw the ball end up at the feet of Tidiane Diallo. His effort came back off the crossbar, but Douglas was alert to head home. It was richly deserved given how the balance of play had turned in Avenue’s favour. As half time approached, Douglas was unable to give his side the advantage, as a great opportunity was squandered and the final action came via a Welfare free-kick that went just wide of the Avenue goal.
From the restart, it was all Avenue. The game had been played in a great spirit, and it was the away side who regained the lead, after a finish finish from the visitors, despite protests of a possible offside. Moments later, Welfare pushed forward, but Morris made the save of the game as he pushed a ball away, one handed at full stretch, for a corner.
Welfare appeared to be gaining the upper hand at that point, but Avenue dug deep and both Abdoul Aziz Diallo and Wota went close. Avenue began to get on top once again, driven by Mason Brewis and Max Walker who were both imperious on the day. A goal was coming and were rewarded when Douglas collected the ball outside the area, cutting to the right and hitting a wonderful shot past the Welfare goalkeeper.
Not content at 2-2, Avenue pushed for a winner and they got exactly that, when Diallo had a shot saved by the goalkeeper who could only palm it against the post. The ball then dropped perfectly for Douglas to finish from close range to give the Avenue the lead, and secure a hat-trick.
In the 80th minute, Welfare were awarded a free kick which was well saved by Morris and the somewhat nervy Avenue support sensed another goal was needed. It happened, when recently introduced substitute, McKenzie Murphy, set off down the wing, looked up and delivered a cross to Douglas, who beat the goalkeeper and headed against the post but substitute, Jayden Cuffe, scored the rebound, effectively sealing victory.
However, they weren’t finished and with the final action of the the game, another attack against a tiring Welfare side, saw Douglas score his fourth goal of the game and walk off with a man of the match award that his performance deserved.
It’s worth noting that since this side began life last year in the West Yorkshire League, it has still to taste defeat on the Horsfall pitch – a huge achievement for the coaching staff and players.
The next match is on Wednesday evening, when the Reserves make the trip to face Oxenhope Recreation Reserves on Wednesday evening (6.30pm).