Westbury finished the game top of the Toolstation Division One table after a strong team performance at West Clewes, which saw Welton battle on throughout the game and give one hundred percent effort, but they just could not find the finishing touch.

The game got underway on a murky, freezing-cold afternoon, and the first effort was a long range curling shot from Josh Ferguson that flew wide of the Welton post.

The game came to life in the sixth minute in spectacular fashion. Joe Batterick, who was playing his first game in six weeks for Welton, picked up the ball forty yards out, noticed Westbury keeper, Lewis Porter, off his line, and chipped in a tremendous shot that flew over the back tracking keeper and into the Westbury net to score one of the best goals seen at West Clewes for a very long time.

Welton’s joy was short-lived, however, as the visitors equalised two minutes later. A free-kick on the edge of the Welton box saw Jake Hiscocks’ quality strike beat Welton keeper, Tom Drewitt, hitting the inside of the post and fly into the net. Minutes later, Drewitt saved well to deny Ferguson, but the ball fell to Dan Kovacs, who shot over the bar with an open goal at his mercy.

Welton had lots of possession in midfield, and a shot on the turn from Chris Pile which went wide. At the other end, good play by Ferguson saw him run into the box and fire in a low-shot that Drewitt did well to turn onto the post and away for a corner. However, Westbury were not to be denied for long, and they took the lead in the 35th minute when excellent individual play on the left from Hiscocks saw him deliver the ball through a crowd of players to Ricky Hulbert, who had the easiest of tap-ins to make it two for the visitors.

Welton took the game to the visitors early in the second half, and a free kick from Pile went just wide of the target. Then an effort from Jaiden Savery took a deflection and was well-saved by Porter in the visitors’ goal. Welton then had two corners in quick succession as they maintained the pressure, but the vital breakthrough wouldn’t come as the visitors’ defence held firm.

As so often happens in football, after all the pressure Welton were knocked back in the 65th minute when Westbury scored their all-important third goal. An attack down Welton’s left flank saw the ball drilled across the area where it was met by former Welton player Jamie Jordan, who drilled his effort firmly into the Welton net.

Welton manager Clive Jones brought on all three substitutes for Welton and the home side continued to press. A shot from Callum Elms went wide, and late in the game a goal-bound effort from Tom Smith was cleared off the Westbury goal-line, but in the end the visitors ran out worthy winners.

Welton entertain Wincanton on Saturday, 13th January at West Clewes, kick-off is 3 p.m.

Bob Allard