CHEDDAR 1 WELTON ROVERS 1

Despite the monsoon, the pitch at Cheddar was in remarkably good condition, and referee, Lee, had no hesitation in confirming the game was on. A brave band of the Green Army made the trip over the dank and murky Mendips to cheer on Welton.

The game got underway with the rain still falling, and Chris Pile tested the Cheddar keeper, Liam Kingston, with a long-range shot. The hosts’ response was a cross-cum-shot from Callum Ham that landed on the roof of the Welton net.

A driving attack from Dylan Hatt and Liam Evans saw them combining well, only for the final effort to be cleared for a corner. Evans was then found in space, and his shot on the turn was saved by Kingston.

Welton took the lead on the half hour with one of the best goals they have scored in open play for ages, which totally mesmerised the hosts’ defence. It started with Alex Wych, who found Pile, who in turn found Hatt, who set up Sam Roberts, and his neat pass found Harry Barter free to the right of the goal, and the youngster drilled his shot into the far corner of the Cheddar net.

However, Welton’s joy was short lived, as two minutes later, referee, Lee, awarded a controversial penalty. Ham had received the ball in the box; Tom Smith cleanly won the ball but Ham went down as though he was poleaxed, and the penalty was awarded, much to the consternation of the Green Army. Up stepped Adam Wright, who fired his kick past Tom Drewitt and into the net to equalise for the ‘Cheesemen’.

The second half began with the rain still falling, and Welton had Drewitt to thank for a top-drawer save early on. The hosts were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area; Craig Mawford fired in a thunderbolt of a shot that cannoned off Smith and looked to be heading for the top corner of the net, until Drewitt somehow got across and clawed the ball away.

Cheddar were pressing, and a long-range shot from Adam Jones went wide, while Ham missed an easy chance in front of goal. Drewitt was then called into action again with a great save from close-range to deny Danny Griffiths.

Welton did respond and looked lively on the break and nearly stole the points late on. A free-kick from the right from Wych was met over on the left by Joe Garland, whose bullet header had ‘goal’ written all over it until Kingston produced a brilliant save to deny Welton. In the end, the deadlock couldn’t be broken and the points were shared.

This Saturday, 2nd November, Welton entertain Ashton and Blackwell at West Clewes; kick-off 3.p.m.

Bob Allard