This was an absolute cracker of a game and a very good advert for Western League football. Credit must go to both teams for producing ninety minutes of attacking quality football that left the large crowd more than satisfied with what they witnessed.

Second placed Keynsham nearly scored in the first minute, when a Welton back pass to keeper, Owen Knight, fell short and Matt Brown got there first, but his goal-bound shot was cleared with a last ditch Welton clearance.

The home side were dominating early on and Harry Ollis headed wide. However, after weathering the early storm, Welton took control with the lively Aaron Seviour and Malick Jammeh causing problems for the Keynsham defence with their running and attacking play.

A free kick from Welton Captain, Tom Smith, was met by Will Hunter and his powerful header went inches wide of the target.

Welton continued to press and a long-range effort from Charlie Babb went close.

Welton took the lead on 35 minutes when a thirty yard thunderbolt from Chris Pile saw Keynsham keeper, Ash Wintle, spill the ball due to the power of the shot and Welton’s Shakel Green was first to react and calmly slotted the ball into the Keynsham net.

The home side responded and good play from Tauren Williams saw him find Brown in space and he scooped his shot over the Welton bar.

Wintle then saved well to deny Seviour and at the other end, Knight produced an outstanding save to deny the home side an equaliser when he tipped over a Sam Duggan effort.

The second half began with Knight called into action early on when he saved Jordan Ansty’s glancing header.

Welton responded and Pile was found on the edge of the Keynsham area but his first time effort flew over the bar.

Former Welton player, Ben Harris, did get the ball into the Welton net, only for referee, Mansfield, to disallow it for an earlier infringement, much to the dismay of the Keynsham faithful. However, Keynsham were not to be denied and when Welton failed to clear their lines, the ball fell to substitute, Pat Davison, who volleyed home from twenty yards.

A quality strike from Jammah saw Keynsham keeper, Wintle, produce a top drawer save. However, Jammah wasn’t going to be denied and five minutes later, a ball into the area saw Wintle and Jammah go for it, falling to Jammah who tapped in to restore Welton’s lead.

Keynsham equalised for the second time, with ten minutes to go, when a corner from the right was met by Duggan and his powerdriver of a header flew into the Welton net.

Five minutes later, Keynsham took the lead when Welton failed to clear the ball and it fell to Duggan in space and he made no mistake with his effort. Welton heads didn’t drop and they continued to press, rewarded just before the final whistle when good play by Smith and Grant Price saw them dissect the Keynsham defence and the ball fell to Seviour on the edge of the area. His first time low volley flew into the Keynsham net to give Wintle no chance and deservedly equalised for Welton.

This was a great performance from Welton and showed the travelling Green Army just how far the team have progressed since those difficult days at the beginning of the season.

Bob Allard