After the rain of the past week, the Weymouth Street pitch was very heavy, sticky and just about playable and it was credit to both sets of players for producing an entertaining game, well refereed by Mr Mansfield, that left both sets of supporters well satisfied.
Welton keeper, Charlie Phillips, was called into action early on when he saved a free kick from Tom Welch. Welton counter attacked down the right, led by Shakiel Green and his cross into the area saw Charlie Babb inches away from connecting with the loose ball.
Welton took the lead on ten minutes when Warminster failed to properly clear their lines and Malik Jammeh picked up the ball and raced into the area, only to be brought down by Welch. Referee Mansfield had no hesitation in awarding the penalty. Up stepped Jammeh, who drilled his spot kick straight down the middle into the net, to the delight of the Green Army.
The home side responded and another quality set piece from Welch saw Phillips pull off a brilliant one-handed save to deny the home side the equaliser. The game was going from end to end and a corner on the right from Welton’s Mike Thorpe saw him deliver a perfect cross that was met by Welton Captain, Will Hunter, and his bullet header flew towards the net, only for Warminster keeper, Graham Kitley, to produce an outstanding save and tip the ball away.
Welton continued to pummel the Warminster defence, with shots on target flying in, but the important second goal wouldn’t come. Francis Allen, for Warminster, saw his effort on target blocked by Welton full back, Dan Veal. Phillips was on hand again as he produced another top drawer save to deny Warminster. Just before half-time, a twenty-yard thunderbolt from Thorpe had goal written all over it but Warminster keeper, Kitley somehow twisted and turned and deflected the ball away.
The second half was only a couple of minutes old when Warminster equalised, a run down the left by Jack Miluk saw the ball fall to Mark Robinson in a melee of players, and he managed to poke the ball into the Welton net from close range.
The home side were on a roll and an effort from Eben Mortimer-Taylor flashed inches wide of the Welton far post. Welton weathered this early storm and responded with a snap shot from Aaron Seviour that was saved by the knee of Kitley.
For the second match running, Welton were reduced to ten men when Thorpe was shown a straight red following a reckless challenge. The ten men of Welton were on the back foot and they had keeper Phillips to thank yet again when he produced a brilliant save to deny Robinson.
Just before full-time, Welton suffered another setback when Seviour was injured, twisting his knee having got stuck in the mud and couldn’t continue. However in the end the points were shared and Welton can certainly thank young keeper, Phillips, who had a Man of the Match performance.
Bob Allard