Despite a spirited performance from Welton, the team returned back to West Clewes empty-handed, going down by a single goal yet again, which has been the case in their last two recent visits to Bristol. With relegation rivals, Clevedon, gaining a point at Cadbury Heath, it is now going to be an uphill struggle to avoid the drop.
As in recent games, Welton started the more lively and a powerdriver of a shot from Dan Cottle after only five minutes had goal written all over it until it struck Danny Barwood, poleaxed him and flew wide. The game was held up for treatment to Barwood.
A minute later, there was another stoppage, after Todd Winter went down with a head injury. Welton pressed further and good work down the right from Cottle saw him deliver a quality cross to the far post where Welton’s Joe Garland was in space, smashing his effort goal-bound only for the brave Barwood to clear the ball off the goal line. The home side then made an early substitution, with Mike Whittington being replaced by Luke Meacham.
Good work from Charlie Maddison saw him round two defenders only to see his final effort fly past the Brislington post. The home side’s first attack saw striker, Rob Sivers, scoop his shot wide of the Welton post. As half-time approached, another flowing Welton attack saw the ball find Ben Horen in space on the edge of the area and his strike flew past Brislington keeper, Nick Yeo, only to be cleared off the line by a defender.
Brislington Manager, Jeff Meacham’s half-time team talk was obviously special, as the home side came out a totally different outfit from the first half and a whipped-in shot from Alex Lambert flew past the Welton post virtually from the kick-off. Minutes later, Welton keeper, Sam Lewis, who was virtually a spectator in the first half, made a fine save low down to deny Lambert. A long-range effort from Meacham went close and a brilliant save from Lewis denied Frank Gingell as Brislington piled on the pressure.
The lively Meacham then saw his shot slam against the Welton post and as Welton tired so the pressure increased and in the 75th minute, Brislington were rewarded for their second half efforts. A corner from the left from James Peart was met by Barwood and his bullet header flew past Lewis and into the net to score a very good goal. Welton did respond and went for the equaliser and Brislington had keeper Yeo to thank for a brilliant double save to deny Cottle and Maddison just before the final whistle.
Welton now face a trip to Clevedon Town on Wednesday evening this week and the outcome of that match could well determine who stays in the Toolstation Premier League and who gets relegated.
Bob Allard