Welton Rovers 1 Sherborne Town 2

This was Welton’s first game at West Clewes since the 18th December and a bumper crowd, including a coach full of supporters from the visitors, turned up to see this top of the table clash.

It was Sherborne who took the honours with a narrow win and remain on top of the table with Welton dropping down to third.

There was a strong blustery wind blowing at West Clewes and Welton had the wind at their backs as they looked to get back to winning ways. The opening exchanges were littered with petty fouls and moaning at decisions as the visitors, in particular, looked to close down the game. A wind assisted long range effort from Jake Slocombe sailed by the Sherborne post and a decent ball found Lewis Russell on a charge into the Sherborne area only to see his shot on target saved by the legs of Josh Atwood in the visitors goal.

Welton continued to take the game to Sherborne who were finding it difficult to get out of their half. Another long range effort, this time from Chris Pile flashed past the left hand upright. The visitors took the lead just after the half hour, a probing run by fullback Aaron White saw his effort cleared for a corner by Welton keeper Alfie Kelsey. The corner was delivered to the far post area then headed back and White was on hand to poke the ball home from close range. Welton responded and a free kick from Ben Wych was met by Joe Garland who saw his header go inches wide of the target. Just before the halftime whistle Welton got the ball into the visitors near but Slocombes effort was ruled out for offside.

Welton started the second half playing into the wind but pressing for the equaliser, Pile swept into the area after a cracking run down the right only to see his effort fly into the side netting. The visitors looked dangerous on the counter attack and Welton had young keeper Kelsey to thank when he produced an outstanding one handed save to deny Alex Murphy. Although Welton dominated play that all important goal wasn’t coming so manager Tom Smith rung the changes bringing on James Batchelor, Toby Cole and Will Gould. Welton thought they had got the important equaliser on 70 minutes when a great ball along the six yard box from Gould was met by Cole who slammed the ball home only for it to be ruled out for offside. It was all Welton now and Sherborne keeper Atwood produced two top drawer saves to deny Courtney Charles and then Garland in the space of a minute. Welton were not to be denied and were rewarded in the 80th minute when a Slocombe free kick from 20 yards out on the left flew into the mix and Gould was on hand to volley home much to the delight of the Green Army. As full time approached Kelsey was on hand with another brilliant save to thwart Murphy but minutes later the visitors got the winner in bizarre fashion. The ball fell to Murphy 10 yards out, his effort was weak and the ball kept low through a crowd of players including two Sherborne players who appeared to be in offside positions in front of Kelsey and the ball just crept into the net causing wild celebrations from the visitors. Welton were gopsmacked and appealed for offside but to no avail and to make matters worse for the hosts young Kelsey was shown a straight red card for something that was said and Jacob Watson went in goal for the remaining couple of minutes of the game.

Bob Allard