Welton moved up to third place in the Toolstation Division One table with a hard-fought victory against a Chippenham Park side, who were reduced to nine men for much of the second half. The game was played in atrocious conditions, with heavy rain sweeping up the West Clewes pitch, and credit to both sides for providing an entertaining game.

The first action of the game saw Christian Koffi launch a twenty-yard shot at the Welton goal, but the ball was off-target. Welton responded, and a Will Hunter cross was met by Chris Pile, whose header went wide. Welton Captain, Chris Garland, then saved the day with a quality last-ditch tackle to deny the visitors’ Enoch Loc.

Dylan Hatt then got into the action for Welton. He set up Aaron Seviour on a charge and his shot was saved by the trailing leg of Park keeper, Adam House. Welton were turning the screws on the visitors, and Pile saw his shot blocked by the keeper while Seviour went close with another effort.

The visitors took a shock lead in the 35th minute, when a free-kick from Eddie Swain was delivered into the area. Garland and Koffi went for the ball low down, and the ball struck Garland’s trailing leg, before slowly creeping into the far corner of the Welton net. The hosts responded, and a volley from Joe Battrick from twenty yards out flew past the near post.

The driving rain continued as the second half began and Welton equalised within thirty seconds of the restart. A cross from the right by Pile saw House push the ball sideways, where Hatt was on-hand to chest the ball into the empty net. Welton stepped up a gear, and a great effort by Lewis Hunt was saved by the keeper.

However, the visitors looked dangerous on the counter, and the lively Koffi beat his marker, but with the goal at his mercy he shot wide.

Chippenham were reduced to ten men in the 55th minute, when Loc was shown a straight red card by referee, Peters, following a coming together with Lewis Coleman, who was booked. Welton were going all-out for that second goal, and a flying header from Seviour cracked against the Park’s upright.

Hunt then saw his curling shot well-saved by House. The action continued, and Battrick was put through into the six-yard box, when he was pulled back by Caine Bradbury and denied a goal-scoring chance.

The referee had no hesitation in showing Bradbury a red card and awarding a penalty. Up stepped Battrick, and his spot kick was brilliantly saved by House in the Park goal.

It was always going to be difficult for the visitors with nine men, and minutes later, Welton took the lead. A corner from the left by Pile curled into the area, and House flapped at it and the ball went straight into the net.

Welton needed another goal to settle the nerves, and with full-time approaching, great work down the right by Alex Wych, who had a good game for Welton, saw him deliver the perfect cross to Seviour in space, and he drilled his shot past House to score Welton’s third.

As the game was well into stoppage time, Seviour got his second and Welton’s fourth with a fine shot on the turn to secure the win for Welton. Next Saturday, 29th September, Welton entertain second-place Devizes Town at West Clewes; kick-off 3 p.m.

Bob Allard