Welton Rovers 2 Devizes Town 1

Welton earned a valuable three points with a very good all-round team performance over their visitors from Wiltshire.

On a freezing cold afternoon at West Clewes, it was Devizes who pressed early on and a drive and shot from Chris Allen was turned away for a corner by Welton keeper, Tom Drewitt. Moments later, Will Hunter was on hand to clear the ball off the line. The visitors took the lead after six minutes with a quality goal.

The lively Allen was found twenty yards out and he launched an unstoppable shot that flew in off the post giving Drewitt no chance.

This early setback woke Welton up, and Alex Wych saw his effort go wide and Devizes keeper, Martin Mitchell, saved well to deny Dylan Hatt. Minutes later, Hatt was very unlucky, the keeper had raced out and Hatt’s delicate lob went inches over the empty net.

However, Welton were not to be denied and after fifteen minutes, they deservingly equalised.

Good play again from Hatt on the right saw him beat his marker and square the ball to Harry Barter, who flicked the ball to Lewis Coleman, on the right, and he drilled his shot into the net to round off a very good team goal.

Devizes responded and a free kick from Allen was met by Jack Baker, who was free in the Welton area, but he headed wide.

The game was becoming a bit bogged down in midfield, as both teams tried to dominate proceedings. Chris Pile put through a ball that disected the visitors’ defence and fell to Scot Hatcher, whose first-time effort went just wide of the target.

Minutes before half-time saw further good play from Hatcher with his final effort to graze the visitors’ far post.

Welton started the second half on the front foot and efforts from Pile and Liam Evans tested the Devizes keeper. Great defending by Devizes’ defender, Matt Russell, saw him clear the ball off the goal line with a diving header to deny Welton the all-important second goal. Welton continued to press and probe and were rewarded in the sixtieth minute with that all-important goal.

A great run out of defence from Sam Stoppard saw him race up the left flank, shaking off challenges, and then deliver a cross that fell to Hatt at the far edge of the penalty area. He hit an absolute, first time, thunderbolt of a shot that flew in off the crossbar and into the net to give Welton the lead.

At the other end, Drewitt was called into action to save Welton from Allen. The visitors pressed for the equaliser and a shot from Baker went wide, but the Welton defence held firm. Both sides used up all their substitutes and Welton created several good chances. In the end, the Green Army went home contented with a great effort from Welton.

This Saturday, 7th December Welton entertain Almondsbury at West Clewes, kick-off at 3 p.m.

Welton Reserves continued their fine season with a 2–0 victory over near neighbours, Radstock Town

Reserves. Goals from Alfie Dix and Jed Benjamin did the damage. This makes it nine wins and one draw for the Reserves so far; a great effort.

Bob Allard