BISHOPS LYDEARD 4 WELTON ROVERS 1

This was a disappointing start to not only the New Year, but the decade for Welton, when they were soundly beaten by the team that were only one place above them at the start of play.

Welton gave a debut to new keeper, Will Justin, who was signed from Almondsbury.

In the first minute, Welton nearly rocked their hosts when Sam Stoppard’s cross from the left was met by Liam Evans, who found Chris Pile; his effort struck the bar and fell down to the Bishops’ keeper, Nathan Whatley, who pushed it back against the bar and out.

Justin was then called into action at the other end, when he pushed away a stinging shot from James Quick. Minutes later, Justin was on hand again with a point blank save to deny Quick.

The pressure was building from the hosts and they took the lead in the eighteenth minute. A long ball out of defence was met by Quick on the left of the Welton area, Justin raced out to close him down, but the striker launched a delicate lob that flew over the keeper and into the net.

Welton responded, and it needed a last-ditch tackle to deny Harry Barter. The game was going from end to end, and a thunderbolt thirty yards out from Sam Mockridge flew inches over the Welton bar. At the other end, a good effort from Joe Garland flashed across the Bishops’ goal.

Justin was then called into action again with two superb point-blank saves to deny the hosts a second goal. However, he could do nothing to stop the Bishops increasing their lead on the stroke of half-time.

Welton lost possession in the Bishops’ area, the ball was delivered up to Quick, who calmly sliced it past Justin and into the net to score his, and his team’s second.

The second half began with the hosts pressing for more goals, and Justin was on hand yet again to deny Ben Hebditch. Pile then saw his shot on target, easily gathered by Whatley.

The hosts were relying on long balls out of defence and using the flanks to pressurise Welton. Charlie Wilson’s shot was just off target and Mockridge ran onto a through ball, only to allow the ball to run away from him.

At the other end, good play by Garland saw him find Barter in a space, only for him to sky his shot over the bar.

Fullback, Alex Wych, then got going down the right, beating off two challenges, only to see his shot flash inches wide of the goal. All of this was in vain for Welton, as another long ball found Quick, who wasn’t closed down, and he calmly slotted the ball into the corner of the Welton net to complete his hat trick.

After this, the Bishops eased off, and allowed Welton to press and get back into the game. They were rewarded in the eightieth minute when substitute, Lewis Coleman, fired in a cracking shot from 25 yards out that gave Whatley no chance. But, to add salt to Welton’s wounds, as full-time approached, Mark Clunie let rip a stunning shot from deep that tore into the Welton net to make it game and set for the Bishops.

Meanwhile, back at West Clewes, Welton Reserves produced an outstanding team performance to defeat rivals, Middlezoy Rovers. Reserves won 2–0 to end their unbeaten run and leapfrog them to go top of the league.

Goals from Alfie Dix and Joe Battrick did the damage, and Welton Reserves remain unbeaten in the season so far, a great effort.

This Saturday, 11th January, Welton entertain Cheddar at West Clewes. Kick-off at 3 p.m.

The Reserves will travel to Frome Town Sports.

Bob Allard