Welton’s pre-season campaign stepped up a notch today with the visit of highly acclaimed Division Two champions The Burton Arms. However, Big Al’s boys were unaffected by both the well fancied visitors and sweltering Lincolnshire heat and ran out comfortable 5-1 winners.
Despite a huge squad for the ‘gaffer’ to choose from, Big Al was able to find starting births for debutants Tom Wilkinson, Scott Coupland and both Clifford brothers. First time regulars Mark Curtis, Will Carter and Sam Gordon were forced to settle for unfamiliar seats on the bench/grassy bank.
After early cagey exchanges the first half looked to be ending in deadlock until Simon Ward capitalised on a scrappy passage of play on the edge of the Burton area to slot home calmly.
Following the first of a series of wholesale changes, Welton came out for the second half with serious intent. Their endeavour was rewarded when a Wilkinson through ball released Ward who made no mistake in delicately lobbing the advancing goalkeeper.
The third was quick to follow as the creative Gordon, who clearly felt he had something to prove, sent Wilkinson clear with an exquisite scooped pass beyond the back four. The ex-Imp fully justified his pre-season price tag with a composed finish.
Seasoned campaigner Mark ‘Arthur’ Daley found space at the back stick to head home a flighted Luke Clifford delivery from the left flank. This made it four for the ‘club’ and marked Daley’s second goal in as many games.
Unfortunately for Welton things were not to go all their way. A frustrated Lawrence mistimed a challenge in the box when in reality the Burton number 10 posed little threat. Referee Clive Wilkinson was quick to signal the penalty and the striker dusted himself off to convert with aplomb and thus rob ‘Mayhem’ of a clean sheet on his debut.
However, normality was restored in the closing stages as Curtis found room on the edge of the box to fire past a statuesque Burton stopper from an acute angle.
After the game Big Al sat firmly on the fence stating nobody except Lawrence had harmed their chances of securing a regular spot in his side. He was also pleased that profits for the Spar had not been harmed by nineteen players all contributing £2 to the ‘miscellaneous’ pot.
The pre-season bandwagon rolls on next week with the visit of Lord Tennyson where Welton look to stretch their run of wins to three.
Team sheet:
Jones (M. Wilkinson 45)
Johnson (Carter 45)
Taylor (Lawrence 70)
Dhindsa (Perry 45)
S. Clifford (Mulhall 70)
T. Wilkinson (Johnson 85)
Coupland (Daley 70)
Stocks (Gordon 45)
L. Clifford (Jones 85)
Ward (Curtis 70)
Drabble (Brewer 70).
Summary:
Jones 6 – Eccentric yet ensured.
Johnson 8 – Solid throughout, should keep place.
Taylor 6 – Comfortable when needed.
Dhindsa 7 – Aerial dominance.
S. Clifford 8 – Impressive debut, sound distribution.
T. Wilkinson 8 – Strong, combative, creative.
Stocks 6 – Steady captains performance.
Coupland 7 – Classy at time, great capture.
L. Clifford 7 – Physical, efficient wing play.
Ward 7 – Assured finishing.
Drabble 6 – Patchy, sublime to ridiculous.
M. Wilkinson 6 – Bravery personified.
Carter 6 – Able understudy to Johnson.
Perry 6 – Improving and learning.
Lawrence 5 – Oxymoronic, composed yet rash.
Mulhall 6 – Mature display.
Daley 7 – Very, very mature display.
Gordon 7 – Quintessentially creative.
Curtis 7 – Casual yet eye-opening.
Brewer 6 – Calm, Honest, Old-fashioned, Dignofied, Evergreen.
Chief football writer, Will Johnson & Resident Sports Scientist, Kip Lawrence.