Welton Rovers 0–0 Gillingham Town

Welton’s 100% start to the season came to an end on Saturday at West Clewes when they were held to a goalless draw by bottom of the table Gillingham Town.

In front of another large crowd it was Welton who took the game to the visitors and a long range shot from James Batchelor was a shade off target.

Welton continued to press and the legs of Gillingham keeper, Scott Wells-Burr, saved a shot from Jake Slocombe to deny Welton an opening goal. Another long range shot from full back, Alex Wych, went wide as Welton peppered the Gillingham goal with shots but the breakthrough wouldn’t come.

Mid-way through the half, Gillingham broke out and a twenty-yard shot from Tom Bevan was safely gathered by Matt Dunk. Lewis Coleman and Jayden Savery then combined well down the left flank before Savery’s crisp shot was well saved by Wells-Buhr.

Welton continued to pile on the pressure and a fine shot from Coleman saw the keeper make the slightest of touches to tip the ball away for a corner.

Just before the half-time break, Jake Bird waltzed his way through the Gillingham defence only to see his final shot clip the far post, the ball rebounded to Chris Pile, who fired home only to see his effort ruled out for off-side.

The second half began the same as the first, with Welton pressing for the opening goal and they were getting more frustrated as the Gillingham defence was holding firm.

Welton Manager, Tom Smith, then brought on Courtney Charles up front to see if he could make the breakthrough. A penetrating run by Savery on the left saw him storm through the defence only to fire in his shot straight at the keeper.

A couple of minutes later Wells-Buhr produced an outstanding one handed save to deny Savery and a Pile thunderbolt was somehow cleared off the line to keep the scores level.

As the game slipped into added time, Welton had one last go at the Gillingham goal, substitute Lewis Russell saw his cracking shot tipped over the bar by the brilliant Wells-Buhr to deny Welton and earn the visitors a deserved point.

Bob Allard