This was Welton’s ninth League game in the last twenty days, and it certainly showed, as the players looked tired as the catch-up on all the postponed fixtures started taking its toll.
The game got underway on a pitch that held up well to the recent rain, and it was the visitors who had the first effort on goal, when a shot from Sam Mockridge flew well wide of the post.
Welton saw off the early challenge, and were getting more into the game when a twenty-yard shot from Lewis Coleman was well-saved by Andy Moore in the Lydeard goal. Jack Kelly was then put through the static Welton defence, but he fluffed his lines and shot wide.
The visitors were mounting the pressure on the Welton goal, and a series of corners were dealt with by the Welton defence. The lively Charlie Wilson saw his first-time shot go wide of the mark. Welton responded, and good work down the right from Chris Pile saw him deliver a near-perfect cross which was met by Jackson Hamilton, and with the goal at his mercy he managed to header over the bar.
Welton keeper, Luke Roberts, then produced an outstanding double-save at the near post to deny the visitors an opening goal. The game was going from end to end, and another good run from Coleman saw him denied by a last-ditch tackle. As half-time approached, Hamilton picked up an injury.
Hamilton was replaced by Malik Jammeh at the start of the second half, and Welton Captain, Joe Garland, was a mighty relieved man, when after only a minute of play he squared the ball across the Welton penalty area, only for Wilson to pounce on the loose ball. With an open goal in front of him, he somehow managed to scoop his shot high over the Welton bar.
Roberts was called into action again, and produced another good save low-down to deny Jack Kelly. Welton responded, and a Tom Smith free-kick was palmed over the bar by Moore. Further good play from Coleman saw him drive across the area and find Pile, whose first-time effort was cleared for a corner. A free-kick 25 yards out for Welton saw Aaron Cockerill’s delivery met by Garland, but his header flew straight into the grateful arms of Moore.
With five minutes remaining, the visitors were awarded a free-kick right on the edge of the D. Up stepped Wilson, who fired in a screamer of a shot that flew straight into the back of the Welton net, giving Roberts no chance and securing all three points for the visitors.
On Wednesday, 2nd May the rearranged Coalfield Classico takes place at West Clewes, when Radstock are the visitors; kick-off 7.30 p.m. Welton’s last match of the season is next Saturday, 5th May, when Devizes Town are the visitors to West Clewes; kick-off 3 p.m.
Bob Allard