Welton Rovers were looking to bounce back after last week’s heavy defeat at Ilfracombe and although they lost to a very good Saltash side, the Green Army were more than satisfied with Welton’s endeavours and play against a top side.

Welton Rovers 1 Saltash Utd 3

Welton had new signing Seb Tylek in goal and welcomed back up front Aaron Seviour who returned to West Clewes from Shepton Mallet.

The visitors were straight out of the blocks with Dave Barker finding Adam Carter in space and his shot was blocked and the ball fell to Harrison Davis on the right and his first time effort clipped the top of the Welton bar.

Saltash were certainly controlling the early stages of the game with quality passing football and pressuring the Welton defence. However, Welton did break out and good play from Ben Wych saw him thread the ball through to Jed Parfitt and he was quickly closed down by the visitors defence and the ball was cleared.

Archie Morris was then booked for pulling back a Saltash player and from the subsequent free-kick, the ball ended up in the Welton net but the effort was ruled out for offside. Welton responded and Lewis Russell won a corner on the left, Cam Allen’s delivery fell to Lewis Hunt and his shot was cleared but the ball fell to Seviour who thumped his shot which struck the underside of the bar, bounced straight down and was eventually scrambled away.

The visitor’s responded straight away, a long ball fell to Callum Merrin and he sliced through the defence to calmly finish off in style to give Saltash the lead. Welton didn’t let their heads drop and a cracking shot from Joe Garland rocked the Saltash bar for the second time as Welton looked to pull the goal back. However, the visitor’s got a second on the half hour when a twenty-five-yard pile driver from the lively Davis flew into the back of the Welton net giving Tylek no chance.

Welton responded and good play on the right from Wych saw his final shot crash into the side netting.

With half-time fast approaching the visitors scored number three when Davis struck again, this time from twenty yards out when he launched an unstoppable shot that nearly broke the back of the Welton net.

The second half got underway with Saltash resting on their laurels but looking dangerous on the break. Cam Allen took the game to the visitors and a long range shot kept low and flew a couple of inches the wrong side of the post. Welton continued to press and Hunt saw his effort scrambled away for a corner.

Good work by Seviour saw him turn his marker and as the keeper raced out, Seviour placed the ball past him only to see the ball turn at the last minute and miss the target.

It was all Welton and a short corner from Allen saw him get the ball back, twist and turn and then hit a top drawer shot that was brilliantly saved by Saltash keeper, Jordan Duffey.

Welton just couldn’t get the vital breakthrough and further chances for Seviour and Russell were dealt with by the Saltash defence. However, Welton were not to be denied and as stoppage time approached substitute Jake Bird was put through on goal, keeper Duffey rushed out to close him down but Bird calmly scooped the ball over the advancing keeper and watched it fly into the Saltash net to score a well deserved consolation goal for Welton, much to the delight of the Green Army.

Next Saturday, 29th October, Welton are at home to another Cornish team, this time Torpoint Athletic, kick-off 3pm. Bob Allard