OLDLAND ABBOTONIANS 2 WELTON ROVERS 4

Following the departure of Manager, Clive Scott, during the week, it was down to the temporary arrangement of former Welton stalwart, Nick Beaverstock, and players, Aaron Seviour and Tom Smith, to look after the interests of Welton until a permanent manager is appointed in the New Year.

Their first game in charge was a difficult away fixture at Oldland, but the players responded in style, with an all-round quality team performance that saw Welton collect all three points and move up to sixth in the League.

The game got underway on a heavy, sticky pitch, and former Welton player, Malik Jammeh, saw his early effort fly over the Welton bar. Welton’s response was instant top quality play from Shakel Green that saw him turn his markers inside and out, before launching a cracking curving shot that rocked the Oldland upright. Further Welton pressure saw two efforts from Chris Pile go close as Welton dominated the early exchanges.

Welton took the lead in somewhat bizarre circumstances in the 23rd minute. As Seviour was sent through on a charge, Oldland keeper, Michael Craddock, rushed out and managed to gather the ball, only to misjudge his throw out. The ball fell to Seviour again, who was close by, and he had the easiest of chances to shoot the ball into the empty net.

The hosts responded, and Welton had full-back, Aaron Cockerill, to thank for his header off the goal-line to deny the hosts an equaliser. However, Oldland were awarded a corner on the right, the ball fell in the area and Welton failed to clear their lines as Luke Tanner was on-hand to poke the ball home.

With five minutes remaining of the first half, Welton regained the lead, after a great run by Seviour saw him fire in a power driver of a shot that the keeper could only parry, and the ball fell to Green, who was on-hand to drill his shot into the net.

With virtually the last play of the half, Oldland equalised when hesitation in the Welton defence saw the ball fall to Antonio Nurse on the edge of the area, and he shot through a crowd of players into the net.

The second half began with the hosts pressuring the Welton defence, and efforts from Josh Williams and Jammeth went close. Welton were awarded a free-kick on the right; the ball was delivered into the area where it was cleared, and it fell to Lewis Coleman 22 yards out, and his top-drawer strike flew into the Oldland net to score a quality goal and restore Welton’s lead.

Oldland upped their game as they went all-out for the equaliser, and a mighty thump from Williams rocked the Welton post. Welton were weathering the Oldland storm and put the game to bed in some style in the 65th minute.

A free-kick deep on the right fell to Seviour, free on the left-hand side of the area, and as Craddock rushed out of goal to close him down, Seviour calmly lobbed the keeper and the ball floated into the far corner of the goal to score his second goal and secure the three points for Welton.

Bob Allard