This victory by Odd Down saw them win the Toolstation Premier Title for the first time in their history and doomed Welton to relegation to Division One, after only one season back in the top flight.
Welton were the more lively in the opening exchanges, as the visitors appeared to be nervous on what was riding on the result. Welton nearly took the lead when a mis-directed back header from Odd Down defender, Lee Bridson, missed the keeper and went inches wide of the goal. A penetrating run by Lewis Dunn saw him being pulled back, but he continued and was eventually blocked and the referee gave a free kick for the original foul.The free kick was delivered into the mix and was met by Ben Horan, whose header went wide. Welton then won another corner and Chris Pile’s delivery curled in towards the top corner of the goal, only for the Odd Down keeper to grab it at the last minute.
All this good work from Welton came to nothing when on twenty minutes, good play from Kye Mountford saw him find Troy Simpson in space in front of goal and he slotted home from close range. The visitors’ nerves were calmed five minutes later when Troy Simpson was found on the edge of the area and he launched an absolute screamer of a shot that flew into the net off the far post, giving Welton keeper, Sam Lewis, absolutely no chance.
Welton responded and an effort from Charlie Maddison went close. Welton then suffered a setback when Player/ Manager, Nick Beaverstock, had to leave the field with a hamstring injury and was replaced by youngster, Mark West. His first contribution of the game was to set up Welton’s goal just before half-time. He picked up the ball on the right, beat two challenges and then delivered a quality cross into the area that was met by Dunn, who drilled his shot past Nash into the Odd Down net.
The second half began with both sides trying to get the upper hand and goal mouth action was limited. However, in the sixtieth minute, Odd Down got their all-important third goal. An attack saw the ball lashed into the Welton box, a goal-bound effort was cleared off the line by Pile, the rebound was fired in and palmed away by Lewis, only to fall to Troy Simpson, whose shot kept low and flew into the net to score his well deserved hat trick. This was a cruel blow for Welton, but they didn’t give up and further good play by West saw him deliver another quality cross that was met by Dunn, but he couldn’t keep his header down and it went over the bar. As full-time approached, the visitors got a fourth when excellent play down the left by Cory Simpson saw him race to the goal line, then attack the goal before delivering a pin-point pass that found Kye Simpson in front of goal and he drilled his shot into the net.
Bob Allard