MATCH REPORTS

Somerset Premier Cup Final

Bridgwater Town 0-0 Welton Rovers after 90 mins and 0-0 after extra time, Welton won penalty shoot out 4-2

Welton Rovers created history on Tuesday night at Huish Park Yeovil by winning the Somerset Premier Cup for the first time in the Clubs long history in a dramatic penalty shoot out over their higher league opponents after neither side could find the net during the allotted time.

In front of a bumper crowd of over 400 spectators, many of whom had made the trip from Midsomer Norton and surrounding areas to cheer on Welton, it was Welton who showed first with the impressive Steve Bridges causing problems for the Bridgwater defence with his pace and darting runs and a first time shot from Bridges was saved by Bridgwater keeper Tom Manley. Good work by Bridgwater’s Marcus Duharty, who was a handful all evening, saw his final shot fly over the bar. Welton had a massive escape when a tremendous shot from Graham Merceica thumped against the woodwork, and Tristan Westlake produced a stunning one handed save to deny Merceica. Welton continued to probe the shaky Bridgwater defence and just before half time Chris Lewis’s snap shot was saved by the keeper.

The second half saw both teams go all out for the all important breakthrough and James Billing’s shot kept low but was saved and as the game flowed from end to end another quality save from Westlake saw him push away Trowbridge’s goal bound shot. Welton continued to press and a rasping shot from Billing went inches wide of the far post and at the other end man of the match Westlake was on hand again to deny the dangerous Duharty. As extra time loomed Billing met a cross from the right only to head over the bar and in the last minute of normal time that man Westlake was called upon again to save with his legs to stop Duharty breaking Welton’s heart.

The game went into extra time but with tiredness affecting both sets of players with several going down with cramp and needing treatment chances were few and far between and the game went to penalties.

Up stepped Welton captain Dean Evans who made no mistake, neither did Danny Maye with Weltons second and Timmy Thompson with Welton’s third. Then Bridgwater’s Ben Kirk’s spot kick was saved by Westlake. Welton missed their next one and Westlake saved brilliantly again to deny Martin Jaks spot kick. It was all on Ashley Lewis’s penalty to win the cup for Welton and the youngster made no mistake with his effort to send the Welton faithful into orbit.

 There were great scenes at the end as Welton captain Dean Evans received the Cup from Somerset FA President, Mr Francis Hillier, and the travelling Welton support and the mighty Green Army could be heard celebrating throughout Huish Park. A fantastic evening for all connected with Welton Rovers Football Club.

Somerset Premier Cup Semi Final

Welton Rovers 2-0 Yeovil Town

 Welton progressed to the final of the Somerset Premier Cup with a tremendous result against their visitors from Yeovil, who fielded eight first team squad members in their starting line up and first team manager Terry Skiverton was also present.

The game started in spectacular fashion with Welton taking the lead within the first minute. A great run by Steve Bridges split the Yeovil defence and a neat back heel found James Billing who calmly slotted the ball past Manchester City loanee Richard Martin into the net to send the bumper crowd into orbit. Five minutes later Welton went two up, when good play from captain Dean Evans on the right saw him deliver a pin point cross and Billing was on hand to drill his shot into the Yeovil net to score his and Weltons second. The Welton faithful were in raptures and a minute later Welton nearly got a third, it was only a brilliant one handed save from Yeovil keeper Martin that denied Bridges. After the early shock of the game the visitors got more into the game and good work from Welton’s Timmy Thompson and Lee Bryant in defence denied Yeovil. Just before half time Lloyd Matthews got the ball into the Welton net but his effort was ruled out for offside.

The second half started with the visitors pressing to get something out of the game but they were denied by stalwart defending led by Nick Beaverstock. Welton keeper Tristan Westlake was called upon to deny Yeovil, he did well to deny Lloyd Matthews effort and minutes later he was on hand to save well from ex Bristol City legend Scot Murray. Yeovil brought on al three substitutes but their efforts couldn’t detract from a first class all round Welton team performance that snuffed out the visitors best efforts and in the end Yeovil ran out of steam and Welton secured a victory that will be long talked about in these parts.

Welton Team: Tristan Westlake, Lee Bryant, Timmy Thompson, Dean Evans capt, Greg Dando, Nick Beaverstock, Chris Lewis, Mark Rowlands, James Billing, Steve Bridges, Danny Maye,

 Subs, Gary Banks, Craig Coles, Nick Hudson, Ash Lewis, Clayton Dando

PS The final was announced after the game, it is being played on Tuesday 4^th May at Yeovil’s ground Huish Park, kick of 7.45pm, against Bridgwater Town. A coach is leaving West Clewes at 5pm and supporters are most welcome to join in the fun.

Radstock Town 0-0 Welton Rovers.

The honours were shared in this local derby which was both sides last league game of a long season, which saw Welton finish the campaign in a highly commendable fifth place in the league.

 The game got under way on a rock hard pitch and very warm spring sunshine and quality football was always going to be at a premium in these conditions but Welton showed first when a darting run down the left flank by Steve Bridges saw him deliver a good cross that was met by Timmy Thompson but his first time volley went well wide of the target. Radstock’s first effort was a long range shot from defender Josh Marsh that flew high over the Welton bar. Welton responded and a good effort from Bridges went inches past the far post. Welton were piling on the pressure early on and a succession of corners was dealt with by the Radstock defence as Welton pressed for the opening goal. Welton then suffered a blow as Bridges was injured in a coming together with Kirk Latham and had to be replaced by Ashley Lewis. As half time approached Radstock’s best attack of the half saw good play by Nathan Flower who found Dan Flower with a pin point cross but he failed to connect with the goal at his mercy. Greg Dando then headed over for Welton when he met a Danny May corner from the right.

 The second half started with the home side pressing and Jamie Mines shot was deflected for a corner. Then really quality play by Tom Pawley saw him run at the Welton defence, beat off two challenges before launching a terrific shot that cannoned off the Welton post and out. Welton counter attacked and Chris Lewis’s shot flew over the Radstock bar. After this initial second half action the game became bogged down in midfield with neither side creating too much in front of goal. As the half progressed both sides woke up to the fact that the game was there for the taking and Mark Rowlands for Welton led the charge when he beat off two tackles before striking a great shot that beat the keeper but was cleared off the line. Welton pressed on and a corner from the left was met by Ashley Lewis and his effort was cleared off the goal line by Flower. Then James Billing got into the action and his shot was saved at full stretch by Gary Stevens in the Radstock goal. In the end neither side could make the vital breakthrough and the points were shared.

Welton Rovers 2-1 Sherborne Town

A brace of goals from James Billing saw Welton finish their last home league match of the season on a winning note and left the visitors from Dorset still in contention for the drop from the Premier League.

In an untidy first period in which neither side took control of the game it was ten minutes old before Welton created their first chance when Billing fired a weak shot straight at the Sherborne keeper. A mistake by Welton’s Nick Hudson saw Tony Cunningham pounce on the wayward pass and his shot struck the outside of the Welton post. Chris Lewis then headed wide for Welton and at this stage of the game it really had an end of season look about it. However Welton took the lead just before halftime when a cross from the left from Lee Bryant saw Billing rise to meet the cross at the sometime as the keeper, Callum Antell, and Billing got the faintest of touches to head the ball home.

The second half was much better with both sides playing some quality football and on 55 minutes Sherborne equalised when Andy Martin finished off a very good attacking move from the visitors by planting the ball into the far corner of the Welton net. Welton responded and Ashley Lewis saw his well struck shot flash over the Sherborne bar. Welton regained the lead after 65 minutes with a strong candidate for goal of the season. Very good determined play by Ashley Lewis in the Sherborne half saw him find Billing, just on the edge of the visitor’s penalty area and with his back to goal, he half turned and struck a stunning first time volley that flew into the roof of the Sherborne net giving keeper Antell absolutely no chance. The visitors went all out for the equaliser but Welton held firm and finished off with all three points which set themselves up for the last league match of the season which is at Radstock on Saturday kick off  1pm.

Les Phillips Cup Semi Final

Welton 0-1 Hallen after extra time.

Weltons hopes of progressing to the Les Phillips Cup Final were dashed with an extra time goal from Hallen’s Tom Collett that broke Welton’s heart in a game that was extremely well refereed by Mr Bromley from Plymouth

 The game got under way on a bone hard pitch and in brilliant spring sunshine and it was Welton who showed first with a good strike from full back Lee Bryant that flew over the visitors bar. Then good play from Danny Maye on the right saw him attack the Hallen area only to shot wide of the target. The visitors responded and an effort from Andy Cook from the edge of the Welton area went wide. Welton’s captain Dean Evans was found just past the centre line and saw that Hallen keeper Steve Scannell was way off his line, so Evans launched a great strike only to see his effort land on the back of the roof of the net. Although the game was going from end to end both defences were in control and clear cut chances were few and far between. As half time approached good work from Maye found Steve Bridges and his cross was met by James Billing but his header went inches over the bar. At the other end Tristan Westlake did very well to grab the ball from the feet of Tony Green who had broken through the Welton defence.

 The second half saw Welton take control of the game and the visitors were on the back foot for long periods but the vital breakthrough did not happen. Billing went close with a glancing header and Scannell saved well to deny Bridges. In a quality move sub, Chris Lewis, found Mark Rowlands who in turn set up Bryant whose first time shot screamed over the Hallen bar. Minutes later man of the match Bryant was at it again, this time a brilliant shot from 25yards had goal written all over it until somehow Scannell managed to tip it over the bar to deny Welton. As Welton continued to press, Evans was found in space, and his flicked header to the far post looked to be going in until somehow Scannell scampered across his goal to finger tip it away. As the ninety minutes approached Westlake saved well to deny Dave Traun, who had tried to lob the keeper, and the game went into extra time.

 Both sets of players were feeling the heat as the game went into extra time, after only four minutes Hallen took the lead when Welton failed to clear an attack properly, the ball was returned to Collet, in space in the Welton area, and as Westlake came out to close him down Collett lobbed the ball over the keeper and into the Welton net. Welton responded and in the second period of extra time really should have equalised. A great run down the right by Chris Lewis saw him deliver a fine cross that was met by Ashley Lewis, and the youngster with a wide open goal at his mercy, headed over and wide of the target. Despite further Welton pressure the equaliser remained elusive and it was the visitors from North Bristol who progressed to the final.