BRISTOL TELEPHONES 1 WELTON ROVERS 4
Welton got back to winning ways with a competent performance against ‘The Phones’ on a cold-but-sunny afternoon in Stockwood.
A depleted Welton side took to the field, with several regular First Team players out injured or unavailable. New signing, Lewis Dixon, made his debut as full-back, and Omar Simpson, on his return to Welton, was on the bench.
The Phones looked the liveliest in the early exchanges, and Emmanuel Benjamin tore through the Welton defence, only to see his effort blocked. Welton took the lead after ten minutes, when the ball fell to Chris Pile, who was 25 yards out, and launched a screamer of a shot that flew into the Phones’ net, giving keeper, Richard Guest, no chance.
One minute later, Welton nearly got a second, when Adam Thurston broke through the Phones’ backline, only to see his effort fly across the goal and graze the far post, before going out. Welton continued to press, with Ben Wych and Lewis Russell having efforts go wide.
Tom Drewitt then saved well to deny Chris Kritoticus, and moments later, Drewitt was called into action again to deny the lively Dhabi Golding. However, the Phones kept pressing, and were rewarded on the half-hour when good play from Jordan Summers saw him thread the ball through to Golding, who placed his shot into the corner of the Welton net to equalise for the hosts.
Just before half-time Welton suffered an injury blow, when Wych damaged his shoulder and was replaced by youngster, Conor Ford. From the free-kick, the ball was met by Thurston, who rose above the defence, only to see his header rock the Phones’ crossbar.
The second half began with early pressure from the Phones, and the makeshift Welton defence were just about coping. However, the pressure was eased when Ford was found in space on the right, and the youngster raced goalwards with no fear, finishing off in style with a rasping shot that flew into the Phones’ net, to score his first senior goal for the club.
Ford then went close with a header as Welton pressed for more. Simpson replaced Thurston, and Aaron Seviour came on for Lewis. Seviour’s second touch of the game was to calmly slot the ball into the net at the far post to score a typical poacher’s goal, making it three for Welton.
The Phones’ heads were dropping, and Welton were now controlling the game, and just before the full-time whistle, Ford got his second and Welton’s fourth, with a quality strike that flew into the net to send the travelling Green Army home down the A37 well content with Welton’s efforts.
Next Saturday, 24th November, Welton are away at Portishead; kick-off 3 p.m.
Bob Allard