Glasshoughton Welfare can consider themselves unfortunate to lose their second league game of the new season when an injury time goal saw them lose out 3-2 at Rotherham based Parkgate on Saturday.

Welfare took the lead with barely 30 seconds on the clock but were pegged back by Parkgate who scored a fluke goal. The home side took the lead early in the second half but welfare fought back to equalise. A couple of missed chances then proved costly as the home side got the winner in injury time.

Welfare joint managers Darren Holmes and Lee Vigars are rebuilding their side after a number of players left last season and for this game they introduced four young players for their debuts. 17 years old goalkeeper Jordan Leatham came in along with three others, Nicholas Lalousis, Alfie Hill ,and James Wood. Another youngster, Callum Dobson was on the subs bench.

In a swirling wind Welfare opened the scoring within 30 seconds of the game starting. Nathan Perks slid a superb ball through to James Dyson on the left and his ball into the home penalty area caused confusion with Craig Tonkinson hitting the loose ball past Chris Butt.

The home side came back and Josh Davies hit an effort over the bar.

On 13 minutes Parkgate equalised with a fortunate goal. The ball was played out to the right to Jon Fusco who from the edge of the penalty, and from an acute angle, hit a hopeful ball across goal and it somehow ended up in the top far corner of the welfare net.

Welfare came back immediately. Dyson saw his cross/shot go inches wide and Lewis Pickering hit a loose ball just over the bar, as did Perks with a free-kick. Perks then shot tamely at Butt after being put through by Dyson.

At the other end Bruno Holden had a fierce shot blocked before Leatham kept the scores level with a great block from Brandon Bagley.

Just before the half-time break Dyson volleyed an effort that Butt saved to his right.

Within a couple of minutes of the break welfare fell behind. Hesitation 20 yards from goal allowed Holden to win the ball and the experienced striker showed his class to loft the ball over Leatham into the net.

Welfare equalised on 61 minutes when Perks played Pickering in. His deft touch beat the onrushing Butt and he slotted the ball into the empty net.

Two minutes later Pickering had a glorious chance to get his second but he hit a hurried shot over the bar from 15 yards.

Substitute Dobson then got onto the end of a deep corner at the far post but his header was brilliantly blocked by Butt who then recovered to claw the loose ball away.

Perks then saw himself through on goal but he was crowded out and shot tamely wide.

Parkgate had another good chance but Leatham came to the rescue blocking a Fusco shot with his feet.

The home side saw another effort blocked and a shot flew inches wide before Fusco secured the winner in the first minute of injury time when he superbly curled a 25 yard effort into the far corner past the unsighted Leatham.

After the game Darren Holmes commented, "Gutted for the lads this week. For the second week running they worked really hard for no reward. Thought we soaked up their pressure in the first half and hit them on the break in the second. We are a very young side that needs time to gel and the signs are looking very good. At 2 2 we had 2 very good chances that would have killed the game. Their keeper made and unbelievable save and Nathan Perks and Lewis Pickering had clear cut chances that on another day go in. We had two 17 year olds playing today and only 3 players over 21. If we play like we have today and cut out a few basic errors then we will do well this season. We deserved better today and again got nothing but that's football we move onto Tuesday."

Parkgate. Butt, Yates, Oliver, Crookes,(Ward), Starosta, Davies, Collinson,(Simpson) Harrison, Holden, Bagley, Fusco. Unused Robinson, khalifa, Valladolid-Collins.

Glasshoughton Welfare. Leatham, Lalousis, Hill,(Collier), Tonkinson, Walsh, Wood, Pickering, Boyd, Dyson, (Dobson), Perks, Bell. Sub. unused Binsley.

Referee. Ryan Boult.

Attendance.88