WELTON ROVERS 0 LONGWELL GREEN SPORTS 2

Welton cannot have any complaints with this result, as a lacklustre second half performance allowed the visitors to leave with all three points and leapfrog Welton in the League.

On a glorious Spring-like afternoon at West Clewes, it was Welton who took the game to the visitors straight from the kick-off. A fantastic attack saw a perfectly-placed through-ball find Joe Garland, who found Chris Pile on a charge through the middle, but just as he was about to pull the trigger, the ball hit a bobble and ran away from him.

Aaron Seviour got in the action as he dinked his way past the Longwell defence and then fired in a low shot that skimmed the visitors’ far post. Welton keeper, Tom Drewitt, then did well to block an effort from former Welton player, Courtney Charles, and minutes later, Drewitt was on-hand again with a good save to deny Luke Bryan, as the visitors were beginning to press the Welton defence.

Good midfield play by Lewis Coleman saw him find Seviour, but unfortunately for him the ball ran away from him in front of goal. Joe Battrick then came to Welton’s rescue with a superb tackle on Bryan, as Longwell pressed for the opening goal.

The game was going from end to end, and a another good Welton move saw Garland find Seviour with a flick on; he in turn set up Coleman, but his first-time volley flew wide of the target. Just before the half-time whistle, Drewitt produced a stunning fingertip-save to tip over Bryan’s thirty-yard screamer.

The second half was only a minute old when the visitors took the lead. A ball from the centre found its way through a melee of players on the edge of the Welton area and fell to the lively Bryan, who made no mistake with his shot from six yards out.

This early setback seemed to deflate Welton, and the visitors stepped up a gear. Welton centre-back, Aaron Cockerill, did well to deny Bryan, who was closing in on goal.

Welton couldn’t get out of their half as Longwell pressed for the second goal, and full-back, Luke Legrass, saw his header flash past the Welton upright. Coleman launched Welton’s first real attack of the half, and his effort was saved at the second attempt by Jamie Powell in the visitors’ goal.

However, Longwell were not to be denied a second goal, and it came in the 65th minute. Bryan tormented the Welton defence down the left flank, and his cross found Charles in space in front of goal, before drilling his shot into the Welton net. All in all, a game best forgotten by the Green Army.

Next Saturday, 2nd March, Welton entertain high-flying Keynsham Town at West Clewes; kick-off 3 p.m.

Welton’s Quarter-Final tie with Taunton Town in the Somerset Premier Cup is to be played at Taunton on Wednesday, 13th March;

kick-off 7.30 p.m.

Bob Allard