What a difference a week makes – after last week’s dismal display against Westbury, Welton bounced back with probably their best team performance of the season against second-placed Keynsham.

After the rain of the last few days, the West Clewes pitch was sticky but playable, and Keynsham keeper, Ash Wintle, was called into action to save low to deny Aaron Seviour. Former Welton player, Ben Harris, then saw his shot palmed away from goal by Charlie Phillips in the Welton goal. Welton were taking the game to the visitors and had three corners on the trot, with the last one finding Joe Garland, who headed wide of the target.

A long range effort from Adrian Harvey flew over the Welton bar. Welton took the lead in the 25th minute when Seviour turned his marker and accelerated towards goal; the defenders couldn’t catch him and he calmly placed his shot past Wintle, into the far corner of the visitors’ net.

Ten minutes later, Seviour was at it again when he was put through by a quality pass from Shakeil Green and he raced towards goal and finished off in style to score his and Welton’s second goal. Further good play by Green saw his shot flash across the Keynsham goal.

Just before half-time, Welton nearly got number three when a corner on the left was met by Aaron Cockerill and his first time effort flew through the Keynsham defence, only to be cleared off the goal-line with an outstretched leg.

The second half started with Welton with their tails up, pressing for more goals against their shell-shocked visitors. Seviour broke through the defence again, but this time his final effort was inches wide and hit the back stanchion. A cross from the right caused panic in the Keynsham defence, with no-one taking control and the ball struck central defender, Jamie Price and then the post before going out.

On the 57th minute, Welton got the third and Seviour his hat trick, which their play deserved, when another mix-up in the vistors’ defence allowed Seviour to pounce on the loose ball, between two defenders, and poke the ball into the net.

At the other end, Phillips produced a very good one-handed save to deny Harris a consolation goal for the visitors. Welton didn’t let up the pressure and good play down the left by Cockerill saw him square the ball to substitute, Aaron Turner and with the open goal at his mercy, he ballooned his effort over. The visitors’ cause wasn’t helped when they were reduced to ten men when Captain, Rob Sheriton, was shown a straight red following a coming together with Chris Pile. As full-time approached, Welton didn’t let up and a thirty-yard thunderbolt from Pile grazed the Keynsham bar as it flew over. Just before the final whistle, Gianni El Elkin missed an absolute stonewall sitter in front of goal.

Bob Allard