Welton stretched their unbeaten run in the league to seven games with a hard working, determined performance over their near neighbours. This was also the first clean sheet Welton had kept since Easter Monday.
A perfectly observed minute’s silence was observed before the game started, in honour of the fallen and Remembrance Day.
It was a lively start from both sides as they got to grips with a very wet and greasy playing surface. The home side had two corners on the trot, and Welton had to thank Captain, Tom Smith, for his goal line clearance to deny Sutton the lead. Good play by Chris Pile saw him set up Jackson Hamilton, but his effort was blocked by the Sutton defence.
Welton’s keeper, Andy King, then raced out of his goal to close down Sam Downes, who had been put through on goal. The home side continued to press, and a quality run down the right by Josh Southway saw him find Downes in space but his first time volley hit the back stanchion of the Welton goal. As half-time approached, a dangerous free kick for the home side on the edge of the area was cleared by Welton full back, Aaron Cockerill.
The second half began with early Welton pressure with an Aaron Seviour effort blocked and minutes later, Charlie Babb raced down the right, squared his ball to Hamilton in front of an open goal, but he thumped his shot into the ground and the ball flew over the Sutton bar.
Welton were really pressing for the all-important opening goal and Bishop Sutton keeper, Chris Manns, was on top form to deny Seviour and a minute later, Will Hunter, with good saves. Welton were not to be denied and took the lead in the 58th minute when a peach of a through ball from Hamilton dissected the Sutton defence and Seviour raced through and finished off in style to score a very good goal.
The game was certainly coming to life now and referee, Gallagher, had his hands full in keeping an eye on what was going on. Smith was unceremoniously brought down right in front of the Welton dug-out and there then followed a couple of minutes of mayhem involving players and both dugouts until order was finally restored by the referee.
Bishop Sutton were pressing for the equaliser and Downes was brought down in the penalty area by Hunter and the referee had no hesitation in awarding the penalty. Up stepped Joe Walters and his spot kick was brilliantly saved by King, diving to the right to keep Welton in front. As the game went into ten minutes of added time, Welton had King to thank again when he saved low down to deny Downes and secure all three points for Welton, much to the delight of the travelling Green Army.
BA