WELTON ROVERS 2 KEYNSHAM TOWN 1

What a difference a week makes! This was a top-drawer, all-round team performance from Welton which saw them deservingly secure all three points and end their high-flying visitors’ fifteen-game unbeaten run.

The game got underway in front of a large crowd at West Clewes that included many who had made the short trip from Keynsham, and they saw Matt Brown shoot wide of the Welton post in the first minute. Then, Kyle Box raced down the Welton left and found Brown on the edge of the area, but his shot flashed across the area and out by the far post.

Welton responded and won a corner on the left that was taken by Chris Pile, and his delivery was met by Aaron Seviour, whose shot on target was blocked by Keynsham keeper, Ash Clark. The game was going from end to end, and Welton keeper, Tom Drewitt, then produced an outstanding one-handed save to deny Tom Knighton.

Both sides were probing and looking for the breakthrough and Welton had Drewitt to thank for another quality save to deny Brown, who was through on-goal. Further Keynsham pressure saw Matt Long meet a corner from the left, but headed over. Welton Captain, Richard Hurd, and the visitors’ Scott Saunders were then booked by the referee following a coming together in midfield.

The breakthrough came in the 36th minute, and it fell to Welton. Seviour stormed down the left, raced into the area and looked up, found Shakel Green in space in front of goal, and he made no mistake as he calmly drilled his shot into the Keynsham net to give Welton the lead. Just before the half-time whistle, a melee in the Welton box saw a Welton boot scoop the ball away from the goal-line.

The second half began with Welton pressing the visitors’ defence. A shot from Pile kept low, but was saved by Clark and Seviour broke through the Keynsham back four, only to fire wide of the target. The visitors stepped up a gear, and special mention must be made of Welton’s back four of Sam Stoppard, Tom Smith, Aaron Cockerill and Alex Wych, who all were having outstanding games in defence. Long then scooped his shot straight into the grateful arms of Drewitt.

Welton got the all important second goal in the 55th minute – a storming run down the left by Seviour saw him beat off two challenges and then deliver a pinpoint cross right onto the head of Dave Cooper, who headed the ball with power straight into the Keynsham net, much to the delight of the massed ranks of the Green Army.

The visitors then got the ball into the Welton net, but Knighton’s effort was ruled rightly out for offside. The visitors continued to press, but Welton were dangerous on the counter and a great volley from Seviour came close to getting Welton’s third. An amazing run by Stoppard down the left saw him run the length of the pitch, beat off all that Keynsham could throw at him and then deliver the ball to Green in front of goal, but he failed to make clean contact with the ball.

The visitors’ cause wasn’t helped in the eightieth minute, when Box was shown a straight red card by the referee for an awful challenge on Stoppard. Keynsham wouldn’t lie down and an effort from Ade Harvey rocked the Welton bar, and moments later, substitute, Matt Curnock, headed home from close-range to score the visitors’ consolation goal.

Welton held firm, and there were great scenes at the end of the game from the Green Army celebrating a stunning victory and a quality game of football.

Welton are away to Ashton and Blackwell next Saturday, 9th March; kick-off 3 p.m.

Bob Allard