Blues brought to an end Armthorpe's 9 match winning streak by taking the first point from them this season and in the process preserved their own unbeaten run which now stretches to one defeat in eleven games.
Blues were again unable to call upon midweek hat-trick hero Shane Newton and were also without knee injury victim Paul Gamble plus recouperating Micky Allsop,Martin Bowles and Paolo Piliero.
Never to be overawed by the opposition Blues threw up a tight defensive line against an expectant Armthorpe.
Blues nosed in front in the 16th min when Nathan Parker shook off his marker just outside the area to lift a shot against the crossbar the ball came away nicely into the path of Jared who swifly belted the ball into the unguarded net for only the fourth league goal Armthorpe have conceded this season.
Their were worried looks from all concerned with the Blues in the 22nd min when Deano went down awkwardly and after receiving treatment left the field to return just briefly before hobbling off on one leg with what we all hope is JUST a badly twisted ankle.
A reshuffle at the back saw Wheaty drop in at right back with Murds moving to the centre.
In 28th min Nat Watson showed more of the qualities which had attracted us to go out and sign him when he turned a defender then sent a perfect crossfield ball to Jared who tricked his way into the area to return the ball to Watson but his finish failed to match the build up.
So solid was the Blues back line that it was 34 minutes before Wellie had their first chance of note.
Henry Sibenge took a corner from the right which came out to Adam Stead who leaning back cleared the bar when well placed to score.
Nathan Parker became the games first booking for a strong follow through on Craig Morley which left the opposition centre half requiring attention.
Blues came close to doubling their advantage on the stroke of half time when Ghis and 'keeper Robert Murray went for the ball both fell in a heap the ball ran loose to Mabo with an open goal to aim at was tackled at the last by Danny Sharpe.There were appeals for a penalty but the referee was to have none of it.
Three minutes after break Jared cut inside to shoot Murray only half stopped but no one was on hand to snap up the scoring chance.
Wellie equalised in 59th min when eventually they took a free kick which had been awarded for a foul on Sibenge by Parker twenty yards out.
With the wall lining up there appeared to be a lot of argy bargy which lead to the almost inevitable but once again totally unnecessary booking of Jared for a fit of petulance.
Bruno Holden finally took the kick which he flighted over the wall and out of reach to Rosco's right for his tenth of season.
All expected that Wellie would throw pretty much the kitchen sink at us for the remainder of the game but realistically speaking they were limited to just a trickle of efforts on goal the best of which in the 80th min came when Hardy got on the end of a cross by Chris Brown to head down which Rosco did well to stop near the foot of the post.
Blues were of little threat also with just a couple of long range efforts which were well off target.
Into stoppage time and Wellie were reduced to to 10 men for the final moments when Liam Hardy was dismissed for a second bookable offence following a tangle with Gints.
All in all not a pretty performance..Dogged..yes...a bit rough and tumble at times which perhaps the home side hadn't been used to this season as they had been sweeping aside all before them.A point we shall take and move on.
Arnold on Tuesday evening for our first defence of the cup.Deano is a concern obviously.Mitch may be away working once again and Gambo probably needs to rest his knee for another couple of weeks.
So we are a little short at the back you may think.On the evidence of the Wellie game though i would back the four that finished the game to do the business against Carruthers,Spencer and co.
I am full of admiration for the emerging Pheas and "Lefty" and of course more often than not Murds will do the business.
There is also one other central defender which some or most of you haven't seen yet in David Leak who from what i have seen will also be a talent to cherish in the coming seasons.
Wellie..
Robert Murray,Liam Davis,David Buck,Adam Stead,Craig Morley(Chris Brown 73)Danny Sharpe,Liam Nelthorpe,James Walker,Bruno Holden,Liam Hardy,Henry Sibenge. other subs Berivan Kurde & Liam Slack.
Blues...
Ross Whalin,Chris Murdock,Adam Campbell,Joe Pheasant,Dean Whiley(Ian Wheat 22),Jared Holmes,Nathan Parker,Kelvin Mushambi,Kev Mabon(Paul McGinty 90+1),Nick Ghislanzoni(Craig Mitchell 65),Nat Watson.
Referee Nigel Bannister from Goole.
Attendance... 70...(at least 30 more must have come over the wall then)
MOM "Lefty"
