Glasshoughton Welfare lose out after losing skipper Walsh in warm-up

They were dealt a blow in the warm-up when captain Adam Walsh suffered an injury and was unable to start. But they began well and should have taken the lead when Selby’s Lucas was caught in possession, but with only keeper Lawrie to beat Francisco Mateos saw his effort blocked.

Lawrie was called upon again with Ferguson bearing down on goal and was quickly out to smother his shot.

Selby opened the scoring on 22 minutes as a free-kick was flicked on to centre-half Ryan Gothard at the far post and he smashed the ball into the net.

Welfare responded and Nathan Perks was fouled. Despite claims for a penalty the referee gave a free-kick, which was wasted.

But Houghton were hit when Selby scored three quick goals in a five-minute spell.

Liam Flanagan was played in down the right to hold off a challenge from Cunliffe and shoot past debutant keeper Lewis French.

An identical move saw Flanagan use his pace to race away and score. Then Selby made it 4-0 as a cross from the right was beaten away by French but fell to Casey Stewart.

But with many thinking the game was over Houghton started the second half to prove them wrong and pulled a goal back from a corner as Sam Nelson was positioned perfectly at the far post to head home.

A second should have followed soon after from Mark Ferguson’s long throw, but Nelson’s shot on the turn was deflected off the line by a defender. Welfare were coming more into the game and Tonkinson’s through ball down the left found Perks whose cross shot was well saved by Lawrie.

On 85 minutes Houghton scored from a Ferguson long throw as Nelson headed in at the near post. But as they committed too many men forward looking for another they were caught by a break when Josh Walker made it 5-2.

With the game in injury time Welfare scored a third with Andy Horbury heading home.

The result saw Glasshoughton drop down to eighth in the Toolstation NCE Division One ahead of their return home to take on 13th-placed Rossington Main this Saturday.