Welton Rovers maintained their top position in the Toolstation First Division with a superb second-half performance that saw them come from behind to secure their sixth League win on the trot and gain the vital three points.

It was an early start for The Green Army, with an 11 a.m. kick-off in the first fixture of the Groundhop weekend, and the game started in front of a crowd in excess of 200.

Just like last weekend, Welton suffered an early setback when they went behind after only two minutes. A long-throw from the right bounced across the Welton area and fell to Conor Britton at the far post, who fired in from close range. This was followed up by a snapshot from Liam Crew that went just off target.

Welton were under considerable pressure in the first twenty minutes, and Luke Bryan went close as the the hosts bombarded the Welton goal. Welton’s first effort of the game was an overhead kick from Lewis Hunt that was easily gathered by ex-Welton keeper, Ryan Perry.

A quick free-kick from Longwell saw the ball fall to Danny Carter, and his long-range effort went wide of the Welton post. Bryan then went close with two further efforts as the Welton goal was being peppered with shots. However, the pressure was eased on the half-hour, when Welton equalised with a top drawer goal.

Good play between Aaron Cockerill and Chris Pile saw the ball fed through to Aaron Seviour, who sent over a pin-point cross that was met by Hunt, who thumped the ball into the Longwell net. Welton were taking the game to the hosts and Seviour won a corner, which was taken by Pile and met by Will Hunter, whose power driver of a header was cleared off the goal-line with the keeper beaten.

The hosts responded and Welton keeper, Tom Drewitt, was called into action and produced two outstanding saves in the space of a minute to deny Longwell a second goal. However, Longwell regained the lead minutes later when a corner from the right was met by another former-Welton player, Courtney Charles, and he made no mistake with his bullet header to give the hosts a deserved half-time lead.

The half-time team talk from Welton Manager, Clive Scott, seemed to have galvanised Welton early in the second half as they took the game to Longwell. A good effort from Seviour cannoned off defender, Tom Smallman, and came very close to going in for an own goal.

Welton were awarded a free-kick thirty yards out on the right. Hunter’s kick was met by Seviour, and he scored with a superb glancing header that flew into the bottom corner of the net to equalise for Welton. As Welton pressed, they had to be wary of the counter attack, and full-back, Alex Wych, did well to deny Bryan a goal-scoring opportunity.

A long goal-kick from Drewitt saw the ball fall to Seviour, but his first-time volley flew over the bar. Carter then saw his effort hit the Welton bar, and that was the signal for Welton to ring the changes, bringing on Dave Cooper and Dylan Hatt.

This had the required effect, and on 75 minutes, Welton took the lead for the first time in the game. Excellent hold-up play by Cooper on the right flank saw him deliver a near-perfect cross that found Seviour in space, and he headed the ball into the empty net to score his second and Welton’s third goal of the game. Cooper then saw his first-time shot fly over the Longwell bar, and just before the final whistle, Drewitt produced another fine save to deny Britton.

Welton entertain Sherborne Town at West Clewes next Saturday, 13th October; kick-off 3 p.m.

Bob Allard