Roman Glass moved up to second in the Toolstation First Division, with a narrow win at West Clewes as Welton suffered a one-goal defeat at home for the second successive Saturday on a trot.

Both teams started the game in determined fashion, and Welton won two early corners. The second, by Aaron Cockerill, curled in towards the near post and looked like it was going directly in, until Malick Jammeh got involved and headed wide.

An attack by the visitors led by Ken Oni saw him race towards the Welton goal, and his well-struck shot was well-saved by Tom Drewitt in the Welton goal. Roman Glass continued to pressurise the Welton back line, and Ryan Radford went close with a shot that kept low.

Midway, Welton really should have opened their account. Great play by Steve Bridges down the left saw him deliver the perfect ball to Courtney Charles, who was free and only ten yards out from goal. His first-time effort had ‘goal’ written all over it, until it was brilliantly saved by the legs of sixteen-year-old Aaron Sainsbury in the Roman Glass goal.

The ball rebounded out towards the right to Chris Pile, and with the open goal at his mercy he fired his shot wide. The visitors responded, and Drewitt brought off another good save to deny Oni. Just before the half-time whistle, the visitors got the ball into the Welton net, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside.

Drewitt, in the Welton goal, was under pressure early in the second half, as Roman Glass stepped up a gear, and he did well to block two early chances. Welton were relying on breakaway attacks, and Charles was put through, racing goalwards, only to skew his shot wide of the target.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 60th minute, when good play by Rhys Hodgson saw him race into the Welton area from the right, only to be stopped in his tracks by Joe Garland. Referee Lewis had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot, and Welton really had no complaints about the decision. Up stepped Joe Swift, who calmly slotted his spot kick past Drewitt into the Welton net to give the visitors the lead.

Minutes later, the Glass nearly got a second when Oni was through on goal, and his shot was brilliantly saved by Drewitt. Welton appeared shell-shocked, and were struggling to launch meaningful attacks – and on the rare occasions they did, they came up against a solid Glass defence.

Just before the final whistle, a free-kick for Welton was delivered into the area and was met by Garland, and his downwards header was saved at the near post by the impressive young keeper, Sainsbury.

Welton entertain neighbours Radstock Town at West Clewes on Good Friday (30th March); kick-off is at 1.30 p.m., and on Easter Monday (2nd April), Welton entertain Devizes Town; kick-off at 3 p.m.

Bob Allard