Welton Rovers 3 Tytherington Rocks 0

Welton continued their charge at the top of the Toolstation Division One table with another impressive solid performance on a freezing cold afternoon at West Clewes.

It was also credit to the large number of spectators who turned up to support Welton on what must have been one of the coldest afternoons in many a year.

The game started with the Arctic wind sweeping across the pitch, but Lewis Coleman was soon in the action on the left and his pass through found Alex Wych in space but his effort was cleared by the Rocks defence. A long range curling shot from the Rock’s Zac Takamaa flew over Alfie Kelsey in the Welton goal and thumped the top of the bar.

A great attacking move from Welton saw Toby Cole, Coleman and Will Gould all get involved in the play only for Gould’s shot to be cleared at the last minute by the Rock’s defence. Kelsey was then called into action when he saved low down to deny Ryan Sharpe.

The game was flowing and good football was being played, despite the conditions, and a terrific shot from Cole was saved at the second attempt by Rocks’ keeper, Bradley Price who minutes later produced an outstanding one handed save to deny Jake Slocombe. Welton finally broke through on the 25th minute when a free kick 25 yards out on the left was delivered at pace by Slocombe, Price could only parry the ball and Cole reacted the quickest and fired the ball into the Rock’s net to give Welton the lead. The visitors’ response was a cracking shot from Ethan McMahon that saw Kelsey pull off a top drawer save to deny the Rocks an equaliser. Just before half-time Welton got the all important second goal, a corner on the left was sent over to the edge of the area where Joe Garland controlled the ball under pressure and threaded the ball through to Gould, who slotted it into the Rock’s net.

Early second half pressure from the visitors saw a fine shot from Bailey Groome saved well by Kelsey. Lewis Russell then received the ball and roared towards the Rock’s area before being upended on the edge of the box. Slocombe’s free-kick was deflected away by the wall for a corner. Cole then got the ball into the Rock’s net but was ruled out for offside. Further good play from Cole saw him tear down the left flank, headed goalwards, rounded Price and fired towards the empty net, but Slocombe added the final touch and was ruled offside and the goal disallowed. A few minutes later, Welton had another goal disallowed in controversial circumstances. Slocombe picked up a loose ball in the middle, raced goalwards, appeared to be blocked in his run and despite being off balance, carried on, lobbed the ball over the keeper into the net, but referee Hooper had blown his whistle immediately after the challenge and brought play back for a free-kick to Welton and disallowed Slocombe’s goal. Welton were not to be denied a third goal, however, and were rewarded with a third goal.

Again excellent attacking play down the right from Slocombe saw him flash his pass across the Rock’s area where it was met by Cole who thumped the ball into the net to score his second and Welton’s third and put the game to bed.

Three more points added to Welton’s season tally that saw them thirteen points clear now at the top of the table.

Bob Allard