Welton Rovers 0 Wincanton 3

This was Welton’s first home league defeat of this season’s

campaign when they were well beaten by the League’s in form team,

Wincanton Town, making it seven straight wins for the visitors.

On another dank afternoon at West Clewes and on a heavy pitch, it was the visitors who pressed early on. A long throw from the right found Louis Irwin and he slipped in a low shot from an acute angle that just bypassed the Welton far post. Good play down the right by Welton’s new signing, Tosin Oyebola, saw him deliver a great low cross into the mix that was begging for a Welton boot to connect with it, and a minute later a long-range effort from Oyebola went wide of the target.

Wincanton opened the scoring in the 15th minute when Dan Quirke picked up on a Welton defensive lapse and played in Jamie Thompson who fired in from the angle, much to the delight of the travelling Wincanton fans. Welton keeper, Alfie Kelsey, produced an outstanding fingertip save to tip Jake Atkins’ effort over the bar. The pressure on Welton was relentless and the visitors got their second goal in the 23rd minute. A through ball on the right from Dan Wise set up Quirke on a charge, there were shouts of offside, but play continued and raced goalwards to drive in a low shot into the back of the Welton net.

Welton tried to respond to these early setbacks but the Wincanton defence was looking on top form. Just before half-time a shot on the turn from Louis Irwin flew over the Welton bar and a rasping shot from Wise was well saved by Kelsey.

The second half began with Courtney Charles replacing Oyebola for Welton and there was a delay when Welton’s young central defender, Archie Morris, needed treatment for a leg injury. The visitors were not resting on their laurels and Kelsey produced another quality save to deny Jamie Thompson. Lewis Coleman then replaced James Batchelor as Welton tried to get back into the game. A shot from Charles was tipped onto the roof of the net by Wincanton keeper, Nathan Ball and as Welton at long last pressed their visitors, a stunning shot from Jake Slocombe was well saved by Ball.

The game was put to bed in the 70th minute, another Wincanton attack saw Kelsey pull off another outstanding close range save but the loose ball wasn’t cleared properly and it fell to substitute, Cam Allen, who drilled his shot through a crowd of players and into the Welton net to make it three for the visitors.

After this defeat Welton have to regroup and get themselves together to be in the right mindset for the Boxing Day Coalfield Classico against neighbours, Radstock Town, who themselves are on a roll. Should be a great game at Southfields, kick-off 1pm.

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Welton Rovers wish the Green Army and Welton supporters everywhere a happy and peaceful Christmas.

Bob Allard