Welton made their first ever visit to Malmesbury Victoria in this Toolstation Division One clash, and after the first thirty minutes of play, Welton were completely shattered by a fine attacking display from Malmesbury and their own schoolboy errors.
The game got underway on a glorious summer afternoon and in front of a large crowd of over one hundred spectators, Malmesbury striker, Sam Parker, went close in the first minute with a glancing header and Dan Greenslade got the ball into the Malmesbury net, only for his effort to be ruled out for offside.
The home side took the lead in the second minute when the ball fell to Tim Bond on the left, Welton keeper, Owen Knight, raced out of his goal to close him down, but Bond drilled his shot across the box, where it struck the unfortunate Welton full back, Charlie Cook, and flew into the net. A few minutes later, the Vics got their second when a mix-up in the centre of the Welton defence saw the ball fall to Parker and he calmly slotted the ball into the Welton net.
Welton did respond and a header from Captain, Joe Garland, was well saved by Josh Langley in the Vics’ goal. Malmesbury got a third goal in the twentieth minute with a cracking twenty-yard shot from Dan Cole that gave Knight no chance. Five minutes later, it was number four when more hesitation in the Welton defence allowed the ball to fall to the lively Parker, who bundled his way into the area and lobbed his effort into the top of the Welton net.
Worse was to follow for Welton, just before the half hour, Parker secured his hat trick and Malmesbury’s fifth goal when he fired home from close range. Welton were all over the place and just before half-time, the Vics got number six when the Welton defence was sliced through and the ball fell to Lee Fernandez, completely unmarked on the left and he thumped his shot into the Welton net to complete the first half rout.
Straight from the restart, Malmesbury were denied a seventh goal by an absolutely brilliant one-handed save from Knight in the Welton goal. The home side were pressing for more goals and were only denied by two more outstanding saves from Knight. Malmesbury then rang the changes and brought on all three substitutes and these certainly interrupted their game. Welton did withstand the second half barrage without conceding any more goals and a free kick from Tom Smith, from the edge of the area, came close to getting a consolation goal for Welton.
The travelling Green Army will always remember their first visit to Malmesbury. Those connected with Welton Rovers have some soul searching to do and decisions have to be made as the performances on the pitch this season are not up to the required standard.
Bob Allard