WELTON ROVERS 1 OLDLAND ABBOTONIANS 0
Welton secured all three points over their determined visitors with a last-gasp winner, scored deep into added time at the end of the match, much to the relief of the Green Army.
On a perfect afternoon for football, it was a lively start from Welton which saw Oldland under pressure right from the kick-off. Good play by Lewis Coleman on the right saw him chip over the perfect cross that was met by Dave Cooper, but he headed straight into the grateful arms of Oldland keeper, Daniel Jesionowski. The visitors’ response was a free-kick on the right from Joe Waters that was met by Josh Williams, but he headed well-over the Welton bar.
Welton continued to look dangerous coming forward, and Dylan Hatt set up Cooper, who saw his shot gathered by the Oldland keeper. A corner on the right from Sam Stoppard was met by Tom Smith, who headed back across goal, and a goalmouth scramble ensued before the ball was eventually cleared for another Welton corner.
Stoppard’s next corner was cleared away to the edge of the area, where Aaron Cockerill’s shot was saved low-down by the keeper.
Welton were a tad fortunate when Smith was robbed by Williams on the edge of the area, but his effort flew over the bar. Stoppard then raced through the visitors’ defence, and with the goal in sight, could only scoop his shot wide of the target. Zak Meadows was booked for Oldland and from the subsequent free-kick by Will Hunter, which landed in the mix, a free-for-all ensued until the ball was finally hoofed away and cleared.
With half-time approaching, Welton had their best opportunity of the half to break the deadlock, when good play from Hatt set up Cooper in front of goal, in space. With the crowd yelling “shoot!”, he decided to play the ball to his side to Shakel Green, who was immediately closed down and the opportunity went begging. Straight away, the ball was cleared and fell to Williams at the other end, who was unmarked and in front of goal and he lashed his shot inches-wide of Weltons’ far post.
The second half started with a charge down the left by Welton full-back, Alex Wych, who launched a stinging shot that was turned away for a corner by Jesionowski. Hunter then found himself in the referee’s notebook for a crunching tackle on Nurse. The game was then delayed when Oldland’s full-back, Cody Vile, had to receive lengthy treatment.
The visitors’ first real attack of the second half saw Dom Holvor fire his shot into the Welton side netting. After this, the visitors suffered a double-setback, when, in the space of five minutes, they lost the services of Waters and Luke Truke through injury. These injuries and stoppages were disrupting the flow of the game.
Welton keeper, Tom Drewitt, was called into action when he saved well to deny Holvor. Aaron Seviour was then denied by brave keeping from Jesionowski, who closed Seviour down just as he was about to pull the trigger. There was yet another lengthy delay following a clash of heads between Hunter and substitute, Jack Cox.
Welton Manager, Nick Beaverstock, by this time had rung the changes, bringing on Joe Garland and Harry McLachlan. Garland’s first touch of the game saw him race into the area from the left and fire off a cracking shot that flew past the visitors’ post.
With seven minutes of added time played, Garland was found on the edge of the Oldland box by McLachlan, and fired in a power-driver of a shot that kept low and flew into the far corner of the Oldland goal to send West Clewes into raptures. There was only time for the restart before the referee blew for full-time.
Bob Allard