After a 9.45 a.m. pitch inspection, the Boxing Day Coalfield Classico was given the thumbs up, and credit goes to Simon Wilkinson for getting the pitch fit.

The game got underway in front of a crowd of over 200 spectators, and both sides made a lively start on the very heavy pitch. A long throw from Callum Elms saw the ball land in the mix, but Francois Allen was penalised for challenging Radstock keeper Glen Murley.

Welton were pressing, and further good play from Allen and Steve Bridges saw the ball fall to Chris Pile, and his effort was cleared away by a Radstock boot. A free kick on the edge of the ‘Miners’’ area from Tom Smith saw the ball delivered and Joe Garland and Murley went for the ball, but the referee awarded another free kick for a challenge on the keeper. A long range effort from Dylan Hatt flew inches wide of the Radstock post.

In the 20th minute, the ‘Miners’ were awarded a free kick on the edge of the Welton area. Up stepped Morgan Skipp, who delivered an absolute peach of a kick that saw the ball fly over the wall and into the top corner of the Welton net to give Radstock the lead. Josh Witcombe then got booked following a crunching tackle on Bridges. Good play by Allen saw him launch a cracking shot that was palmed away by Murley.

Just before the half hour mark, Radstock got a second when Matt Minnis drilled his low shot goalwards – the ball slowed in the mud of the goal mouth and as Welton players went to clear it, they slipped and the ball crept over the line.

Welton’s heads didn’t drop and they responded with attack and attack on the ‘Miners’’ defence. Bridges was found in space, and his terrific effort rocked the Radstock crossbar, and minutes later, excellent play from Pile saw him waltz through the Radstock defence and fire in a power driver of a shot that thumped against the Radstock post. Just before the half-time whistle, Bridges was denied by a brilliant one handed save from Murley. Welton were very unlucky to go into the break two goals down.

The second half began in worsening conditions, with heavy rain falling and the pitch really cutting up. Elms fired over the bar for Welton from long range, and at the other end a shot from Jack Witcombe was cleared off the Welton line by Garland. In the 55th minute the ‘Miners’ thought they had got a third, when a shot through a crowd of players had ‘goal’ written all over it, and the players turned away to celebrate only to see the ball strike the Welton post.

As the half progressed and conditions deteriorated, Welton were trying to up their game, but too often passes were going astray and frustration was building. This was compounded with ten minutes to go when the lively Skipp broke through the Welton defence on the left and chipped his shot over keeper Tom Drewitt to score his second, and Radstock’s third, which was enough to secure all three points for the ‘Miners’.

Bob Allard