After Welton’s strong mid-week performance in the FA Vase against Bodmin, the travelling Green Army were hoping that Welton could take that effort into the league action at Sherborne. However, as has been the case for most of the season, Welton failed to convert the numerous goal-scoring opportunities they created in the first half and then appeared completely out of sorts for most of the second half.
The game got underway on an extremely heavy pitch that saw both sides take their time to adapt. Good play by Dan Cottle saw him fire a cross into the penalty area, where it was met by Anthony Conradi on a charge, but he skewed his effort over the Sherborne bar. Further good play from Cottle on the right saw him rob a defender, set up Conradi and his cracking first time goal-bound shot was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Sherborne keeper, Jamie Beale.
Sherborne were then awarded a free kick in a dangerous position on the edge of the Welton area. Tony Cunningham’s effort flew into the side netting.
Welton responded and Ben Horan did well to fire in a shot under pressure, only to see it saved at the second attempt by Beale. It was all Welton as they went all-out for the important opening goal. Chris Piles’ shot went wide and a superb last ditch tackle by Kris Hastings denied Conradi. A Cottle corner caused panic stations in the Sherborne defence before the ball was eventually cleared.
As half-time approached, Welton turned the screw on the Sherborne defence. Cottle managed to drill a pass into the mix, but an under pressure Conradi fired wide. Then a free kick into the area was met by Horan, his effort was palmed away by the keeper and the ball fell to Chris Peck, but his effort went inches wide of the target. Right on the half-time whistle, Conradi broke through, but he shot wide as chance after chance for Welton went begging.
The second half began with Sherborne pressing early on and Welton suffered a setback when Conradi pulled up and had to be substituted. The home side were using the long throw to cause problems in the Welton defence. As the half progressed, the game was becoming bogged down in midfield with both sides guilty of giving the ball away. Steve Friend for Sherborne saw his effort fly across the Welton goal and Pile denied Nick Jacobs.
Welton were struggling to get out of their half and were punished in the seventieth minute when a cracking shot struck Jamie Gregory’s outstretched arm and referee, Rutter, had no hesitation in awarding the home side a penalty. Gregory wasn’t booked by the referee. Up stepped Michael West, who drilled his spot kick into the bottom left hand corner of the net to give Sherborne the lead.
Welton tried to respond to this setback, but in the end, it was another vital three points lost in their relegation struggle.
Bob Allard