WARMINSTER 0 WELTON ROVERS 1

What a start to the season for Welton Rovers under new Manager, Jared Greenhalgh, when they made the short trip to Warminster.

After a superb attacking first half and resolute defending in the second, Welton deservedly returned to West Clewes with all three points in the bag. Two local youngsters, Kyle Stock and Joe Stoppard, made their First Team debuts, and new signing from Bishop Sutton, Liam Evans, also started for Welton.

The game was played in front of a crowd just short of 200, with Welton taking the game to their hosts by playing neat, attacking football on the floor that saw the Warminster midfield mesmerised. Great play by Joe Stoppard saw him set up Chris Pile, who delivered an accurate cross into the area which caused panic stations in the Warminster defence. At the other end, George Butler was found in space but he shot high and wide of the Welton goal.

Welton continued to test the hosts, and a deep free-kick from Tom Smith was met by Joe Garland, who saw his header fly across the face of the goal, crying out for a

Welton boot to poke it home. However, the large contingent of the travelling Green Army were rewarded after twenty minutes, when a clearance out of defence by Garland saw the ball land on the edge of the Warminster penalty area. A mix-up by defenders allowed Lewis Coleman to nip in and reach the ball before the advancing keeper, Carl Crabtree, and calmly slot it into the Warminster net to give Welton the lead.

Straight from the restart, Welton keeper, Tom Drewitt, had to be on-form when he produced a top save with his legs to deny Warminster an equaliser. Welton were awarded another free-kick, and this time Sam Stoppard’s quality strike was met by Garland again, whose header was saved by Crabtree.

New signing, Evans, who was having a good game in midfield, together with Harry McLachlan, then saw his long-range effort saved by the keeper. Just before half-time, excellent play by Stock down the right saw him drill his quality pass into the path of Sam Stoppard, and the youngster’s first-time effort was saved by Crabtree.

The half-time team talk in the host’s dressing room must have been interesting, as Warminster came out for the second half like a team possessed and immediately took the game to Welton. The back four for Welton, led by Tom Smith and Joe Garland, who were both having top-drawer

performances for Welton, were able to deal with all that was being thrown at them, allowing Welton to look dangerous on the break.

A stunning run by Pile saw him tear through the Warminster defence and set up Dylan Hatt in front of goal, but he was unable to control the ball and the chance went begging. Minutes later, Welton had another chance to kill the game off – good play down the right flank by Stock saw him find Coleman in space just outside the mix, but he tripped and the chance was gone.

Drewitt was then called into action again at the other end when he denied Martin Johnson with a fine save. The hosts continued to probe the Welton defence, but quality defending kept Warminster at bay. The flow of the game was being interrupted as players tired, and both sides brought on all their substitutes – one of Warminster’s, James Vincent, got the ball into the Welton net but was quite rightly ruled out for offside, and just before the full-time whistle, a header from Henry McFerran clipped the top of the Welton bar.

This Saturday, 10th August, Welton entertain Bishop Sutton at West Clewes; kick-off 3 p.m.

Bob Allard