Welton Rovers 6 Bristol Telephones 0

This was Welton’s first home game since January 11th and boy, what a game it turned out to be. This was also Tom Smith’s first game in charge after his official appointment as Manager at the end of last month.

Smith has been active in the transfer market and four new signings made their debut for Welton against the Phones.

Before kick-off, there was a minute’s silence for Welton stalwart, Roy Kemp, who sadly passed away on Friday, aged 86. Thank you, Roy, for your years of service to Welton Rovers.

The game was a mere seventeen seconds old when Welton took the lead and it was one of the debutantes who struck. Straight from the twice-taken kick-off, the ball fell to Jacob Reader on the left flank. He raced down the left, cut in past his marker and fired in a cracking shot that kept low past the keeper and into the far corner of Phones’ net.

Good play from Rene Adigbo saw him brought down on the edge of Phones’ area. Upstepped Chris Pile and his free kick hit the back stanchion of the goal. Minutes later, Pile was in action again with a well-struck effort that saw Phones’ keeper, Aaron Greatbanks, save to his right.

The visitors’ first attack saw a header from Kieron Golding comfortably saved by Welton’s new keeper, Matthew Dunk. The visitors were on the back foot as Welton totally dominated proceedings and they were rewarded in the twentieth minute with a gem of a goal. Excellent inter play between Pile and Adigbo mesmerised the Phones defence and Adigbo finished off the move with a quality strike into Phones’ net. Minutes later, Welton got a third, when Liam Evans was found central on the edge of the area, turned his marker and fired in a cracking shot past the keeper and into the net.

This new-look Welton side were totally dominant as the visitors struggled to contain the attacks. Another good effort from Evans was tipped over the bar and Readers’ shot had goal written all over it until a last gasp block cleared the ball off Phones’ goal line. Welton were not to be denied and got a fourth just before half-time. A corner on the right was taken by Sam Stoppard and his delivery curled over the defender on the near post and straight into the Phones goal.

The second half began as the first had finished with Welton in control and pressing their visitors. The Green Army had to wait only ten minutes into the half when a run from Scott Hatcher saw him tear through the centre of the Phones defence and unselfishly square the ball to Adigbo on the left who made no mistake with his effort as he drilled his shot into the back of the net to make it five for Welton.

Substitute, Tom Lakeman, then got into the action for Welton, his first touch of the game saw his effort clip the far post and minutes later, quality play by Dylan Hatt saw him set up Lakeman, whose first-time shot rocked Phones’ post.

The visitors went into damage limitation mode and Greatbanks produced two outstanding saves, first to deny Pile and then Lakeman. Further excellent play by the lively Pile saw his effort beat the keeper only to see the ball cleared off the goal line by the trailing leg of a defender. Welton were not to be denied and just before the full-time whistle sounded, Welton got their sixth. Good play between Lakeman and Hatt saw the ball fall to Pile and he finished off in style with a cracking shot that flew into the net.

This was one of the best Welton performances seen in a very long time and credit goes to the new management team and the players. The Green Army were very impressed!

Welton travelled to neighbours, Radstock Town, on Tuesday evening as The Journal went to press for the rearranged Boxing Day derby and are without a game on Saturday. The rearranged Somerset Premier Cup match with Yeovil Town is scheduled for 17th March at West Clewes, kick-off 7.45 p.m.

The Reserves’ game was postponed on Saturday and they are in action again on Tuesday evening against Peasedown Miners’ Welfare and on Saturday, 14th March are home to Castle Cary.

Bob Allard