WELTON Rovers are through to the next round of the FA Vase, winning a dramatic penalty shootout 6-5 against Torridgeside after the sides had fought out a 1-1 draw at West Clewes, Radstock.

With the match level at 1–1 against the Devon-based outfit after the 90 minutes, it was goalkeeper Massimo Sardo who sealed the win with a stunning double save in sudden death.

On a dry, rock-hard pitch at West Clewes, Welton started brightly. Alex Kieh led the early attacking play, and in the eighth minute, Eddie King turned his marker and fired a superb strike into the far corner. Torridgeside responded with pressure and were awarded a penalty in the 18th minute after Sardo was adjudged to have fouled Frank Rosenwald. Shaun Copp’s spot-kick was brilliantly saved low by Sardo, who then denied Rosenwald again moments later.

The visitors continued to press and equalised in the 40th minute through Rosenwald’s powerful finish. Just before the break, Welton suffered a setback as goalscorer King was forced off with an ankle injury.

The second half saw Torridgeside dominate early on, with Sardo making another crucial save. Kieh and Dan Wilson both cleared off the line to keep Welton in the game. As the half wore on, Welton rallied, and Hugo White’s header was acrobatically saved by visiting keeper Aiden Craker.

With no winner after eight minutes of added time, the match went to penalties. Both sides converted their first five. In sudden death, Andrew Gardiner calmly scored for Welton. Torridgeside’s final kick was powerful, but Sardo produced a remarkable double save to secure the win.

Welton’s reward is a lucrative home tie against Jewson Western League Premier Division neighbours Shepton Mallet on Saturday, 20th September. It will be a stern test for Welton against a side lying sixth in the table.

Bob Allard