WELTON ROVERS 1 CALNE TOWN 2

Welton can count themselves very unlucky not to come away with at least a point in this entertaining game against League leaders, Calne Town, at West Clewes.

In a tight opening period, both sides were probing their opposing defences with limited effect. A good cross from Sam Stoppard into the box was cleared for a corner by the Calne defence. The subsequent corner was met by Welton Captain, Tom Smith, and his goal-bound header was cleared. At the other end, a good shot from Dan Sibley went wide of the Welton upright.

The deadlock was broken in the twelfth minute when the ball was threaded through the static visitors’ defence, and Dylan Hatt was on-hand to fire his effort past Calne keeper, Sam Thomson, and into the far corner of the net to give Welton the lead. The visitors’ response saw striker, Stuart Windsor, break through on the left and fire across goal, only to see his shot clip the far post and go out.

The visitors were pressing for the equaliser. A header from Mark Dolman went close with Welton keeper, Tom Drewitt, racing out to grab the ball from the feet of Sibley. Scott Hatcher then picked up a loose ball on the edge of the Calne area, and his first-time shot was pushed away by Thomson. Drewitt then produced an outstanding save as he tipped Sibley’s volley over the bar, which saw Welton go into the half-time break one goal up.

The second half began with the visitors pressing early on; a great run and shot from fullback, Aaron Mitchell, was saved by Drewitt. A free-kick from Stoppard fell to Chris Pile, but his effort went wide of the target. Both sides were going all-out for the all-important next goal.

A deep free-kick for Welton was fired into the mix, where it was met by Joe Garland, who rose above the defence and saw his firm header fly towards the net, only to be cleared off the line at the last moment to deny Welton a second goal.

A minute later, the ball fell to the lively Sibley in the Welton area, but he was tripped and referee, Gross, had no hesitation in awarding the visitors a penalty. Up stepped Jake Allen, and he drilled his spot kick into the far corner of the net to equalise for Calne.

Minutes later, the visitors were down to ten men when Oscar Webster was shown his second yellow card of the game for an awful challenge on Hatt. As full-time was fast approaching, Calne were awarded a free-kick out on the right, and Declan McStravick’s delivery saw Windsor meet the ball first; his glancing header directed the ball into the far corner of the net and gave the visitors the lead.

With the limited time remaining, Welton virtually camped out in the Calne area and shot after shot rained in on the visitors’ goal, but the vital breakthrough wouldn’t come, and in the end, Calne came away with all the points and remain top of the League.

This Saturday, 26th October, Welton are away at Cheddar; kick-off 3 p.m. Welton Reserves continued their unbeaten run in the League with an impressive 5-2 away win at Brislington.

Bob Allard