Welton got the vital point, in fact all three, to secure promotion back to the Toolstation Premier League when they ran out worthy winners over a strong Cheddar side. About eighty members of the Green Army made the short trip over the Mendips to roar Welton home to their richly deserved promotion. The only sour note to the proceedings was a dreadful injury to Welton keeper, Andy King, that saw him taken to hospital.
The game got underway on a drizzly afternoon at Cheddar. After an edgy start, Welton got into the game and quality play from Dan Cottle in midfield saw him ride two challenges to set up Ricky Scott, whose first-time effort flew inches wide. Further attacking play by Welton saw fullback, Dan Scivens, on a charge down the left flank and his cross was met by Scott, but he headed over as Welton pressed for an early goal. On 25 minutes, the ball was put through the Welton defence and bounced up, King raced out to grab the ball as Adam Jones raced on to it with his knee raised, which struck the unfortunate King straight in the face, knocking his head back and emergency treatment needed.
Tom Smith donned the keeper's jersey and Steve Bridges was brought on by Manager, Nick Beaverstock. A few minutes later, Welton took the lead when the lively Reynolds was tripped in the area and the referee had no hesitation in awarding Welton a penalty. Up stepped Reynolds and he thumped his spot kick straight down the middle into the net. The home side responded and a 25-yard free kick from Craig Mawford flashed past the Welton goal and just before the half-time whistle, Welton had Scrivens to thank as he headed a goal-bound shot off the line after nearly fifteen minutes of added time in the first half.
Welton got straight into the action at the start of the second half, when a cracking header from Reynolds was brilliantly saved by Dangerfield to deny Welton a second goal. Stand-in keeper, Smith, then brought off an outstanding one-legged save to deny Cheddar. Scott was then brought down by Ricky Bennett, who kicked the ball away in frustration, but escaped punishment as referee Cutler was busy sending off Cheddar's Chris Coombes for something he said, reducing the home side to ten men. A minute later, a mix-up in the Welton defence saw the ball fall to Adam Jones and he made no mistake as he slotted the ball past Smith to equalise for Cheddar. However, Welton's response was spot on. Good play from Cottle saw him find Conradi in space on the edge of the area and he beat one man, turned and fired in an unstoppable shot that flew into the far corner of the home side's net to regain the lead for Welton and settle the Green Army's nerves. The icing on the cake came minutes later, when Captain, Chris Peck, scored an absolute gem of a goal. The ball was delivered to Peck on the edge of the Cheddar area, he controlled it, tipped it up and fired in an absolute cracker. As the final whistle went, there were fantastic scenes on and off the pitch to celebrate Welton's promotion.
All connected with Welton Rovers Football Club wish Andy King a speedy recovery and our best wishes and thoughts are with Andy and his family.