Welton progressed to the Quarter-Finals of the Les Phillips Cup with a dramatic penalty shoot-out win over their Premier League opponents. The scores were all square after extra time, but Welton more than dealt with what Bradford could throw at them and in the end, came away worthy winners.
The game got underway in front of a bumper crowd at West Clewes and it was the visitors who pressed early on. Good work in midfield from Dan Cottle saw the youngster turn his marker, advance on goal and fire in a great shot that was saved by the Bradford keeper, Chris Snoddy. Further good play from Welton saw the lively Joe Garland find Welton Captain, Chris Peck, in space and his overhead kick was saved by Snoddy as Welton pressed. A rare mistake in the Welton defence saw the ball fall to Bradford's prolific striker, Sam Jordan, but with the goal at his mercy, he shot wide.
Welton's response was a cracking volley from Peck that flashed across the visitors' goal. Cottle then became the first player in referee, Allinson's book, following a heavy tackle. Cottle's answer to that was to set up Peck with a quality throughball and the
Captain's strike went inches wide. Twaine Plummer and Ricky Scott both got booked following a coming together in midfield.
As half-time approached, brilliant Welton play by Peck, Anthony Conradi and Tom Pawley saw Snoddy produce a brilliant block to deny Welton. Joe Straddling then got himself booked for a lunge on Ricky Scott.
The second half began with Bradford turning the screw early on and Plummer broke through the Welton defence and with the goal in front of him, fired wide. The visitors were using the long ball over the top and another flew over the Welton defence for Jordan to pounce on, but again, his final effort was off target. Welton weathered that early storm and a good effort from Conradi went just wide.
Hulbert was then booked for a raised foot tackle.
The deadlock was finally broken in the seventieth minute when Conradi broke through on the right flank, raced towards the goal and as he was about to be closed down, fired in a great shot that struck the near post, only to rebound and strike the unfortunate Mike Reaney on the back and fly into the Bradford net, much to the delight of the massed ranks of the Green Army. Welton keeper, Andy King, then produced an outstanding save to deny Plummer an equaliser for the visitors.
Bradford continued to press for an equaliser and were rewarded when a stunning strike from the edge of the Welton area from Steve Hulbert flew into the Welton net, giving King no chance. Both sides then went all out, but both defences held firm and the game went into extra time.
Extra time saw both teams hesitant to commit themselves in case a mistake was made which would lose the game. A good effort from Reynolds went close for Welton early on. Welton were then reduced to ten men when Cottle received a second yellow card and was off. Garland and Aaron Cornwall also got booked as the vital second goal wouldn't come and the game went to penalties.
Andy King produced a top-drawer save to deny Plummer with the visitors' first penalty kick and after that, Welton went on to win the shoot-out 4–2, sending the Green Army into raptures and who will now be looking forward to the Quarter-Final match at West Clewes against Premier League side, Gillingham, on Tuesday, 24th March.