WELTON ROVERS 0 WELLS CITY 0

Despite the lack of goals this wasn’t a bad game, with both sides going full-steam for the three points, but in the final analysis it was both sets of defences that ruled the roost.

Welton started the game buoyed by their midweek visit to Chard, where an outstanding team performance saw them take a well-deserved point from their high-flying hosts. Youngster, Harry McLachlan, made his home debut for the senior squad after his Man of the Match performance at Chard.

After the overnight rain, the West Clewes pitch was very heavy, but Welton were straight out of the blocks. Good play between Joe Garland and Aaron Seviour saw Garland’s power driver of a shot from the edge of the area brilliantly tipped over the bar by young Wells keeper, Tom Creed. Minutes later, Lewis Coleman went close with a good effort.

Welton fullback, Sam Stoppard, produced a great block to deny Warren Mylum on a charge. Lewis Williams then met a cross from the left, but his header flew straight into the grateful arms of Welton keeper, Tom Drewitt, and at the other end, Garland scuffed his shot, having been set up by Seviour.

The game was going from end to end, with both defences under pressure. Chris Pile went close, and the visitors’ James Bisgrave saw his shot flash across the Welton goal. Wells won a corner which was met by Tom Clifford-Jones and deflected for another one, and from that delivery, Drewitt did remarkably well to claw the ball back off the goal-line through a melee of players to save a certain goal.

As half-time approached, the visitors were pressing the Welton back four, and a glancing header from Williams went just-wide, and Drewitt made a superb full-stretch diving save to deny Mylum.

It was a fast and furious start to the second half from Welton, as a glancing header from Garland went inches-wide of the far post following good play from young McLachlan. Seviour then produced one of his charges into the area, only to see his deep cross fly across the Wells box with no Welton foot there to poke it home.

Both sides were going all-out for the all-important opening goal to break the deadlock. A cracking effort from Alex Wych crashed against the advertising hoardings inches-wide of the goal. Then, Drewitt produced an outstanding point-blank save with his trailing leg to deny Paul Braithwaite’s close-range shot.

It was Welton’s turn to respond, and they peppered the visitors’ goal with efforts from every angle, but the Wells defence held firm. Just before full-time, good play down the right from Coleman saw him find substitute, Sheikel Green, in space in front of goal, but he somehow scooped his shot over the Wells crossbar.

This Saturday, Welton are away at Devizes Town; kick-off 3 p.m.

Bob Allard