Following a similar pattern of recent matches, Timsbury started brightly, with Shearing in the Welton goal called upon to make a smart save from Cook. Hancock was then unlucky to see his twenty yard shot clear the bar, with the same player then heading over after a fine cross from the left by Blanin. Midgely then saw his fine run end with a shot that just clipped the top of the cross bar.
Welton’s first attempt on goal after twenty minutes should have given them the lead, when Whittock found himself one on one with the keeper, but his shot across goal fell well wide.
The home side did not have to wait long to open the scoring; a poor headed back pass left Knight in the Timsbury goal stranded and the Welton forward was felled in the area as he reached the ball first. Whittock made no mistake with the penalty.
Within a minute, Welton made it 2–0 when Timsbury’s defence allowed Ben Grubb to ghost in from the right and fire into the roof of the net. Blanin should have reduced the arrears’ when a fine through ball from Hancock left him in front of goal; instead of shooting, he passed across the face of the goal and the chance was lost.
In the 45th minute, Timsbury’s defence was found wanting again when Ben Grubb was left with acres of space on the edge of the box to shoot past Knight and make it 3–0.
Early in the second half, Knight was called upon to save at the feet of Thorpe, to stop the home side increasing their advantage; then Leo Grubb shot over the bar when well placed.
It took the introduction of sixteen-year-old Makombe to spark Timsbury into life. His first involvement led him to race from the centre circle, beating two Welton defenders wide on the left, only to see his shot find the side netting. Then Shearing stopped a certain goal when Makombe beat the last defender, only to see his shot tipped onto the roof of the net.
With fifteen minutes remaining, a long throw from Heaton caused panic in the Welton defence, leaving Neilson free to score. Although Makombe volleyed over from eighteen yards and Cook saw his shot roll across the face of the goal, it was too little too late and Timsbury were unable to break down a resolute Welton defence, who held firm for a deserved win.
Star Man: Mark Burge (Welton Reserves).
Rob Veater