Welton got back to much needed winning ways with a great victory over their visitors from Cornwall who were making their first ever visit to West Clewes.

Welton Rovers 4 Torpoint Athletic 2

Welton suffered a setback just prior to kick off when keeper Seb Tyler, who had been injured in last Tuesdays match with Shepton, failed a very late fitness test.

Up stepped Welton manager Tom Smith to take the reigns between the sticks to start his first match of the season. There was another bumper crowd at West Clewes to see Welton take the game to Torpoint early on. A Will Gould shot was blocked and the ball fell to Lewis Russell loitering in the area and his shot bent wide of the far post.

Torpoint took the lead after only six minutes when a thirty yard screamer from Kieran Dyer cracked into Smith’s chest and the ball fell to Elliot Crawford who poked the ball home from five yards out. Welton responded to this early setback and Cam Allen and Lewis Hunt both went close with their efforts.

An inswinging corner from Darren Hicks was punched away by Smith under intense pressure on the goal line and at the other end the visitors keeper Tyler Coombes did well to deny Allen. On the half hour Aaron Seviour was brought down in the Torpoint area and referee Middleton had no hesitation in awarding Welton a penalty. Russell made no mistake as he fired the ball low down into the corner of the net to equalise. This galvanised Welton and further good play from Russell saw him feed the ball to Ben Wych and his first time shot went inches wide of the target. As halftime approached Joe Garland headed the ball into the Torpoint net only for it to be ruled out for offside.

Welton started the second half going all out for the all important second goal, they were awarded a corner on the right, Allen’s short corner fell to Russell and his class back heal fell back to Allen on a charge and he smashed the ball across the mix into the far corner of the visitors net to get the second.

Further good play from Welton saw Garland waltz through the Torpoint defence only to see his final effort fly over the bar. The visitors were not giving up and a hopeful shot on the edge of the Welton area by Curtis Damerall took a wicked deflection off the unfortunate Scott Hatcher and flew into the net giving Smith no chance. This setback revitalised Welton who regained the lead in the seventieth minute. Welton pressure saw the ball fall to Owen Punselie out on the left and his looping cross to the far post fell to defender Archie Morris and his power driver of a header flew into the Torpoint goal.

Welton didn’t rest on their laurels and a thunderbolt from Allen saw Torpoint keeper Coombes bring off an outstanding one handed save to deny Welton a fourth goal. Smith then saved well at the other end to deny Jack Alexander.

Welton put the game to bed and secured the vital three points as the game went into added time when excellent play on the right flank from Jake Bird saw him power into the area and thread the ball through to Punselie who side footed the ball into the net from close range much to the delight of the watching Green Army.

Bob Allard