Welton Rovers 1 Bishop Sutton 1

This was yet another feisty encounter between the two neighbours which saw referee Gould having a busy afternoon and Welton ending the game with nine players left on the pitch.

The game was constantly being punctuated by bickering and niggly challenges and wasn’t helped by the choice language at times coming from the dugout areas. This was not impressive to hear.

It was a dull, dank afternoon at West Clewes and fine drizzle falling as the game started and the playing conditions were very heavy underfoot. The visitors were awarded a corner early on and Brad Hardidges’ delivery was met by Craig Wilson, who flashed his header just wide of the Welton upright. Welton responded and Craig Charles was set through on a charge and was promptly upended by Sutton keeper, Dominic Oakes, on the edge of the penalty area. It seemed that Oakes was the last man, but much to the bewilderment of the Welton faithful the referee only showed the keeper a yellow card. Joe Ellis’s kick struck the wall and was cleared away from danger. Welton’s Will Gould then got himself booked for pushing Oakes, who went down like he had been shot.

The visitors then took the game to Welton and Oakland Buck shot wide and Welton keeper, Alfie Kelsey, saved well to deny former Welton player, Jacob Bird. The game was being interrupted by niggly tackles and challenges and referee Gould called both Captains together to explain his thoughts on the game so far. Charles picked up a loose ball and thread his pass to the charging Gould who raced towards the target, Oakes narrowed the angle and Gould’s final shot flew inches past the Sutton post. Gould was in the action minutes later when a great strike on the turn was cleared away for a corner.

The game was all action now and the Welton keeper produced an outstanding save with his trailing leg to deny Buck. Just before the half-time whistle Buck was the third player in the ref’s book and great work from Chris Pile down the right saw him launch a cross come shot that Oakes managed to palm away from under the bar.

The second half began with Lewis Coleman replacing the injured Courtney Charles and the first action of the half saw Bird turn his shot past the Welton post. Welton’s response was a cracking shot from James Batchelor having been set up by Pile that was saved by Oakes. Ben Wych then got himself booked for bringing down a Sutton player. This was followed by Sutton’s Billy Downes being sent to the sin bin for ten minutes for having words with the referee and a long range effort from full back, Hardidge, wizzed past the Welton far post. Kelsey was called into action again when he produced another top drawer save to deny Wilson. Welton full back Joe Battrick then got himself booked for a late tackle.

The stalemate was finally broken in the 65th minute when a long clearance out of the Sutton defence saw the ball fall to Buck, who wriggled away from Archie Morris and raced goalwards and fired a low shot into the corner of the Welton net to give the visitors the lead.

The restart saw Welton press and Wych appeared to go down in front of the referee who told him to get up and this was followed by a melee involving numerous players pushing and shoving. After three or four minutes the referee gained control and the end result was a second yellow card for Wych and he was off. After this the ten men of Welton continued to press and two stunning shots, one after the other, from former Sutton player, Kyle Box, saw Oakes make a couple of great saves to deny Welton the equaliser.

With five minutes left Welton got the all important equaliser, superb play by Battrick on the left saw him launch a delicate cross to the far post were it was met by Welton Captain, Joe Ellis, who headed home from five yards to score.

The game still had one more twist when Battrick received a second yellow card for bringing down Bird on a charge and Welton had to see out the remaining three minutes of normal time and eight added on minutes of this eventful game to take a share of the points.

Bob Allard