WELTON ROVERS RES 1 RADSTOCK TOWN RES 0

Welton gained the local bragging rights over neighbours, Radstock, in a hard-fought local derby, played on a glorious Spring afternoon at West Clewes in front of a decent-sized crowd.

Welton started with an early attack led by Kyle Norris, which saw him win a corner on the right. The delivery was floated in and eventually fell to Jed Benjamin on the edge of the area, but he could only manage to scoop his effort over the visitors’ bar.

Welton continued to press, with Norris causing problems for the Radstock defence. Another corner for the hosts saw Callum Matthews in the Radstock goal fly through a melee of players to bravely punch clear. Radstock responded to this early pressure, and good work by Ben Padfield saw him drive through the Welton defence but shoot straight into the arms of Welton keeper, Luke Roberts.

Jed Parfitt then launched an attack for Welton, beat off a couple of tackles before finding Norris clear in front of goal, only for the striker to fire high over the bar. As the game settled down, a scrappy period of play from both sides ensued, which saw neither side dominate proceedings, and too many being caught offside.

However, as half-time approached, a flashing header from Radstock’s Brad Whitlock went just-wide, and a Jordan Townsley header in front of goal was palmed away by Roberts in the Welton goal. Jordan Bowering then put through Whittock on-goal, Roberts bravely rushed out and got his hands on the ball, but the ball fell loose and Whittock put the ball in the net, but it was ruled out for a foul on the keeper.

Whittock was in the action when he was put through again, but this time he lobbed the keeper, only to see the ball land on the roof of the net. Right on the stroke of halftime, the deadlock was broken. Norris was tripped in the Radstock area and the referee had no hesitation in awarding Welton a penalty. Up stepped Norris, who drilled his shot low down, straight into the Radstock net to give Welton a half-time lead.

The second half began with the visitors pressing for the equaliser – a long-range effort from Townsley went close and a curling shot from Whittock was just off-target. Good work by Warren Forest in midfield for Welton saw him find Norris in space. He in-turn found Parfitt, but his final effort was off-target.

The game was ebbing and flowing, and Padfield saw his on-target shot saved by Roberts, and minutes later, excellent play by Padfield down the right saw him turn his markers inside and out, and then strike a cracking shot that flew inches over the Welton bar.

It was all Radstock now as they battled for the equaliser, but the Welton back four held firm, and Welton looked dangerous on the counter-attack. One such attack saw a ball out of defence find Norris on a charge, and his cross-field ball found Parfitt racing at the goal, but his first-time effort went wide of the target.

As the game was coming to a close, a 25-yard thunderbolt from Nathan Cridge flew high over the Welton bar. With minutes remaining, Welton really should have put the game to bed.

Forrest was put through on-goal, where he rounded the keeper, and with the goal at his mercy, he shot wide. In the end, the spot kick was enough to secure the points and leapfrog their visitors in the League positions.

Next Saturday, 6th April, Welton travel to Bishops Lydeard; kick-off 3 p.m., whilst the Reserves are home to Brislington; kick-off; 3 p.m.

Bob Allard