Glasshoughton Welfare 1 Eccleshill United 1

After a string of good results against the leading sides in the Northern Counties East Premier Division, Eccleshill United were held to a draw at struggling Glasshoughton on Saturday.

It was a scenario that displeased United manager Steve Watson but one that presented itself because United did not make the most of two penalty awards.

They scored one but had one saved.

Welfare took the initiative from the outset and stunned their visitors with an early opening goal. There were just four minutes on the clock when the home side struck through Alex Higgins.

United were guilty of trying to over-elaborate. One of their defenders had his pocket picked and Higgins got a foot around his marker to steer the ball in.

The visitors were handed a lifeline around the half-hour.

A ball into Welfare's area spun up and a defender was penalised for handball. United skipper Stuart Waite stepped forward but his spot kick was saved.

Another penalty midway through the second half came to United's rescue.

A ball into the home side's area again reared up and hit the arm of a defender. The referee had no second thoughts.

This time, midfielder Chris Rosindale assumed the responsibility and he made no mistake.

That completed the scoring but failed to give high-flying Eccleshill their expected victory over lowly opponents.

"It was not one of our best days at the office, but we have to be fair to Glasshoughton because they got into us from the off," said United's assistant manager Ray Price.

"They must have heard we like to play football and they just wouldn't let us settle and get on with it.

"For us, it is back to the Jekyll and Hyde performances but the main thing is that we haven't lost.

Price lamented his side's habit of not beating sides towards the bottom.

"There are lessons we can learn from this as a club but mainly from a players' point of view.

"The main pointer is that we need to go to these places and get results because it's no good just playing to our full potential against the top sides.

"We seem to have a phobia about playing the sides in the lower half of the table. Some people think we don't have to up our game to beat them.

"I hope this has taught them a valuable lesson."