WELTON ROVERS 2 CHARD TOWN 3

This was the penultimate home game of Welton’s topsy-turvy season, and what a strange game it turned out to be.

Welton found themselves behind after only two minutes, when a ball out of defence from the visitors fell to Nathan Warren deep on the left. Welton keeper, Tom Drewitt, had a rush of blood to his head, and raced out of goal only to see Warren, calm as you like, chip the ball over the keeper and watch it fall into the empty net.

Chard continued to press, and a shot-cum-pass from Sam Smith flew across the Welton goal, where it was met by Ben Haines, but his volley went wide. Welton

responded at last, and Aaron Seviour was found in space on the right – great ball control from the striker which saw him fire in a cracking shot that grazed the bar as it went over. Dylan Hatt then fired in an effort from the edge of the box that was easily gathered by the Chard keeper, Alex Cunnold.

The visitors increased their lead in the twentieth minute, when they were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the Welton box. Up stepped Warren, who drove his kick straight in the wall but it struck the leg of Welton defender, Aaron Cockerill, which diverted the ball past the hapless Drewitt and into the net.

Welton’s response was instant. Straight from the restart, a long ball caused a mix-up between Cunnold and one of his defenders, which allowed the ball to fall for Seviour, who calmly drilled his shot into the empty net to pull a goal back for the hosts.

Chard increased their lead again on the half-hour in somewhat bizarre fashion. Drewitt cleared the ball from the edge of his area, the ball kept low and fell to Warren, who met it just over the half-way line, he saw Drewitt way off his line, so he launched a monster kick that flew over the keeper and dropped into the Welton net to score one of the contenders for goal of season at West Clewes.

Just before half-time, Welton really should have scored when the ball was threaded through to Seviour in the six yard box; the goal was at his mercy, but he wanted an extra touch and that hesitation allowed the ball to be cleared by the Chard defence.

The second half began with Welton pressing the visitors, and Seviour was very unlucky to see his downward header strike the base of the Chard post. A long-range effort from Will Hunter wasn’t that far away from the target.

Welton’s efforts were rewarded in the 65th minute, when Seviour scored his, and Welton’s, second goal. A free-kick from deep fell into the Chard area, and a scramble saw the ball fall to Seviour, who made no mistake with his effort from close-range.

Welton had to be wary of the visitors’ counterattacks, and Ryan Parris was put through, only to see his shot fly inches past Welton’s far-post. It was all Welton as they pressed for the equaliser, where good work on the right from Alex Wych saw him deliver a top-drawer pass that was met by Seviour on a charge, only to see his shot fly over the bar.

As the game entered added-time, Welton’s cause wasn’t helped when centre-back, Hunter, received his second yellow card of the game and was off. In the end, the visitors held on and all three points headed to South Somerset.

On Good Friday, 19th April, Welton make the short trip to Southfields for the local derby with neighbours Radstock Town. The Coalfield Classico kicks-off at 1.30 p.m.

Bob Allard