WELTON ROVERS 0 HENGROVE ATHLETIC 1

This was a real smash and grab three points for the visitors after Welton failed to capitalise on a series of chances, especially in the first half, leaving the door open for Hengrove to punish them in the second.

The West Clewes pitch passed two pitch inspections, the last one an hour before kick-off, and referee, Wilson, deemed the pitch playable.

The game got underway on a very sticky surface to say the least, and the first action of the game saw a Chris Pile corner find Liam Evans in space on the edge of the area, but his first-time shot sailed over the Hengrove bar.

An effort from Dylan Hatt was saved by Carl Bush in the visitors’ goal. Further Welton pressure saw the ball fall to Scot Hatcher; he fired in on goal, the ball hit Gary Shorney on the shoulder, deflected onto the bar and was eventually cleared. The lively Hatcher then broke through again, he pulled the ball back to Harry Barter, but his shot was off-target and failed to trouble Bush.

Welton continued to press, and Barter beat the offside trap, raced on goal, but scooped his shot wide as another chance went begging.

A long-range shot from Pile went straight at the keeper just as the heavens opened up again. Just before half-time, a quality glancing header was well saved low down by Bush to deny Welton the opening goal.

The rain continued to pour as the second half began, and a deep, free kick from Craig White curled into the Welton area and was missed by all, then hit the far post and appeared to hover on the line.

There was a massive shout from the visitors that the ball had crossed the line, but the assistant referee ruled that it had not.

Hengrove were not to be denied and on 55 minutes, they opened the scoring.

Another long ball free kick flew into the area and as the defence and keeper watched the ball, Mickey Parsons rose to the occasion and his glancing header saw the ball fall into the Welton net.

Welton pressed for the equaliser and a series of corners were won in the space of a few minutes.

Right at the end, Bush brought off a match-winning save to deny Evans.

Bob Allard