In a tight game where clear-cut goal chances were limited, it was the hosts who secured all three points with a well taken goal, ten minutes from the end.

The game started in bright, spring-like sunshine and a comfortable temperature, ideal playing conditions.

Welton were straight out of the blocks and a good run by Aaron Seviour saw him find full back, Dan Veal, on a charge down the right and his cross flew into the mix, begging for a Welton boot to connect with it.

Welton’s other full back, Aaron Cockerill, then got into the action, with a jinxing run through the Park defence only to see his twenty-yard shot well saved by Sam Thompson in the Park goal. At the other end, Dan Sibley broke free of his marker, saw Welton keeper, Charlie Phillips, off his line, so launched a delicate chip that dropped just wide of the target. Further good play by Cockerill saw him find Seviour in space, but his final effort was off target.

Thomson was on hand again to deny Giannni El Elyon a well placed shot as Welton were creating opportunities, but the vital goal just wouldn’t come.The hosts had a loud penalty shout turned down by referee, Slade, after Harry Myles was bundled over in the Welton area. Good play by Veal saw him put El Elyon through on goal and his shot was well saved by Thompson to deny Welton yet again. Both Welton full backs, Veal and Cockerill, had storming first halves.

Park got the second half underway and an early attack led by Gary Lock saw his cross flash across the Welton six-yard area, but nobody was on hand to make the vital touch. At the other end, the lively Cockerill tore into the area again, only to see his power driver of a shot go inches wide.

Welton were dominating the play but couldn’t get the vital breakthrough. As the half progressed, Park seemed to realise that they had weathered the Welton storm and gradually got their act together. A cracking shot from substitute, Ben Pring, saw Phillips pull off a great stop to deny the hosts.

However, Chippenham were not to be denied and with ten minutes to go, a great run down the right by full back, Lock, saw him cut the ball back past the Welton defence and find Pring in space on the edge of the area and he calmly drilled his shot past Phillips into the far corner of the net.

If that wasn’t bad enough for Welton, they were reduced to ten men deep into stoppage time when central defender, Grant Price, was shown a straight red card by referee, Slade.

Bob Allard