Welton regretted having not taken their chances to have the match won at half-time. A sucker punch equaliser at the beginning of the second half galvanised Calne Town who, in the end, looked the more likely to win the game.
Welton were back to near full strength following the return to the squad of Tom Smith and Will Hunter who had missed the previous weekend’s defeat to Ashton and Blackwell Utd due to injury.
Hunter went straight back into his usual central defensive role, allowing Jackson Hamilton to be restored at centre forward in a 4-4-2, while regular Captain, Smith, had to make do with a spot on the bench.
Welton started confidently and were exciting going forward, able to commit plenty of men into attack as Calne offered very little on the counter. The game’s first real chance came inside ten minutes when a neat one-two between Shakeil Green and Hamilton put Green through on goal, but his shot was tame and straight at goalkeeper, Allison. Welton continued to trouble Calne’s back four, but not so much Allison, as most opportunities were cleared at the last or flashed wide.
On 27 minutes Welton were given the golden opportunity to take the lead that their pressure had warranted. Good play down the right flank allowed Malick Jammeh space in the box to twist and turn, and invite a clumsy challenge from Callum Bell that left referee, Finean, with a simple decision to award the spot-kick.
Jammeh, having already converted three penalties for Welton this season, was the man looking to convert, but his effort was pushed away by Allison, who should have been made to work a lot harder from twelve yards.
The numerous supporters of the Green Army didn’t have long to wait for the opening goal, despite this brief disappointment. Fowler won a vital challenge in the Welton box and his interception set Jammeh free on the right hand-side. Jammeh, seemingly desperate to make up for his spot-kick miss, set off on a dazzling run down the wing, running half the length of the field before setting Hamilton free in the channel. Hamilton delivered the perfect pass across the Calne six-yard line and Aaron Seviour was right on cue to finish from point-blank range to notch his tenth goal of the campaign already in what is his first full Western League season.
Welton did not let up and continued to dominate the half, but couldn’t add to their one goal lead.
The second 45 was a different story entirely. Calne came out of the blocks at one hundred miles an hour, working a great passing move that resulted in Stuart Windsor being slipped one on one with Welton keeper, Knight, who could do nothing about the placed shot for the equaliser. The Lilywhites were buoyed and they kept their momentum for nearly the full duration of the second half. Hopkins was key for the home side, dominating play on the left wing which Welton reacted to by bringing Smith on from the bench to add to the backline’s experience.
Thankfully for Welton, Calne’s finishing was very poor, which was exemplified by Legg, who somehow managed to head wide when unmarked, just three yards from goal. Welton did make some late chances of their own, the best of which fell to substitute, Thorpe, but on an increasingly heavy pitch, he was unable to finish when one on one.
Welton will be disappointed with their second half performance after thrilling in the first, and will need to up their game when hosting Radstock Town in the Coalfield Classico at West Clewes on Boxing Day. Kick-off is 1 p.m. and there will be food and entertainment in the clubhouse all day and evening.