Bishop Sutton 1 Welton Rovers 2

Welton stretched their unbeaten run to thirteen league games and a nine point clear margin at the top of the league with a cracking win over Bishop Sutton, which can best be described as a feisty encounter in the rain at Lakeview.

Referee Knowles was a busy man, issuing two red and six yellow cards to the hosts and four yellows for Welton. But despite this and the conditions, the game was played at a terrific pace with excellent football on show from both sides for the spectators who braved the rain to enjoy.

It was the hosts who took the game to Welton straight from the kick-off, with attacks down the flanks that tested Welton’s back four. A free kick from Brad Hardidge was met by Mason Dagger, but his powerful header flew into the grateful arms of Welton keeper, Will Hunter. Welton countered and good play between Alex Wych and Jake Slocombe saw Slocombe’s shot palmed away at full stretch by Oliver Eglon in the Sutton goal. Then, following good play from Lewis Russell, the ball fell to Slocombe but his snap shot was gathered by Eglon. The game was going from end to end and Dagger saw his effort well saved by Hunter, and minutes later, Hunter produced an outstanding save to tip striker, Craig Wilson’s shot over the bar as the hosts pressed for the opening goal.

At the other end, Russell waltzed his way through the Sutton defence only to see his low shot fly inches wide of the far post. Hunter then saved well again to keep out Hardidge’s 20-yard screamer.

Welton took the lead just after the half hour when the ball fell to Courtney Charles, just inside the Sutton half, his delicate pass set up Slocombe on a charge and he raced goalwards and slotted the ball past the advancing keeper and into the net, much to the delight of the travelling Green Army. The hosts responded, but Welton’s defence, marshalled by Joe Garland and Archie Morris, were up to the challenge and responded with excellent defensive work.

The second half began with Welton pressing for the all-important opening goal with Charles and Russell combining well in attack. A long range effort from Luke Trowbridge was deflected for a Sutton corner. The ball was delivered over the area and headed back into the mix where Wilson poked the ball home from close range to equalise for the hosts.

Welton Manager, Tom Smith, then introduced Chris Pile and Jake Bird into the fray and Bird’s first contribution to the game was a darting run down the right and into the area only to see his effort saved at the second attempt by Eglon.

Minutes later, Bird was at it again, flying down the wing leaving his marker behind and delivering a near perfect cross that fell to Charles in front of goal but the striker scooped the ball over the Sutton bar.

Welton were stepping up a gear and were rewarded just after the seventy minute mark when a cross from the right from Welton Captain, Alex Wych, flew across the area and fell to Slocombe in space on the left and he made no mistake as he drilled his shot straight into the Sutton net. Bird was tormenting the hosts down the right and another cross was met by Slocombe, but this time he shot over from close range.

The temperature levels on the pitch were rising and some hefty challenges were being made and the referee was being kept busy. The ball went out of play near the Sutton dugout and as Pile went to get the ball a melee occurred and Pile was forcibly pushed away and a number of players from both sides got involved.

The game was held up for a couple of minutes and resulted in a red card and yellow card being issued by the referee to two members of the Sutton dugout team. As the final minutes approached, Welton were in control of the game and although Sutton pressed too often, their ball out of defence went astray and failed to trouble Welton.

As the final whistle went there was further trouble involving the players from both sides, which resulted in Sutton’s Wilson being shown a straight red card for allegedly punching a Welton player. However, this couldn’t take the shine off from another top drawer performance from Welton against difficult opposition.

Bob Allard