WELTON ROVERS 1 BATH CITY 1 (5–4 PENALTIES)
Welton recorded their first competitive victory over the Romans since 1950 in their replayed Somerset Premier Cup Second Round fixture.
The original fixture, played back in November, was declared void after it was discovered City had inadvertently fielded an ineligible player, but Welton proved they were worthy of a second bite of the cherry with this famous victory.
This was no scratch Bath City side, with the match day squad having amassed over 180 National League South appearances between them so far. Welton were competitive for the full ninety minutes, matching the visitors chance-for-chance, but it looked as if it wasn’t to be their night when Tom Smith converted a rebounded shot from close range, with just eight minutes remaining. Welton did not give up though, and Midsomer Norton-born Aaron Seviour forced the match to a penalty shootout, scrambling in the equaliser in the game’s final minute, having been on the field for just nineteen seconds!
Over 250 spectators nervously watched on as the match went to penalties. City’s Ryan Brunt put his high over the bar, while Will Hunter, Welton’s own Tom Smith, Joe Battrick, Aaron Cockerill and Dylan Hatt held their nerve to send the Green Army into raptures, and into a Quarter-Final match against Taunton Town (date to be confirmed).
Gareth Paisey