WELTON 6 ANCASTER RAMS 2
WELTON secured their place in the fifth round of the County Cup with a confident display at Social Park this afternoon. Coupland and Ronnie both netted twice and Bowey and Dhindsa sealed the win against a resilient and well-organised Ancaster side who ply their trade in the Grantham Premier Division. Welton entered their third successive cup game on the back of an incredible nine-game winning streak stretching back to early September. Big Al’s 30-strong squad was put to good use this weekend with notable absentees, Gordon, Curtis, Clifford, L, and Began all unavailable. Drabble J, Bowey, Dhindsa, Brewer, Daley and Staffy making the coveted 14-man select.
The visitors arrived at Social Park in a fetching mini-bus, clearly intent on enjoying their day out in the quaint suburb. The Rams took to the field in striking green attire and started off attacking the Wall End in the driving rain. The greasy top allowed the hosts to quickly settle into their passing game with Coupland and Wilkinson linking up well in the opening exchanges. However, it was to be the visiors who shocked Social Park inside 15-minutes. A long ball wasn’t dealt with by the Welton defence – and the Rams striker was on the ball in a flash to place his shot across a hapless Stafford. The Sleaford number two will feel he should have done better as Welton received a much-needed wake-up call.
It didn’t take the hosts long to restore parity. 24-minutes in, and the Lincs Joiner COUPLAND showed all the craft and skill required in his trade to drive a well-worked short corner into the roof of the net. It was a truly wonderful strike from the youngster who will be disappointed close partner E. Foster was not on show to witness the finish.
The goal sparked new life into Taylor’s men, and Ancaster were being opened up at will. Missed chances from Drabble, Bowey and Wilkinson infuriated the home fans but they did not have to wait long for their despair to turn to joy.
On 33-minutes Deloitte Businessman Tom Bowey showed the kind of intricate footwork which has attracted attention from the likes of Wellingore Athletic and AFC Harpars in recent times. The elegant winger worked his way into the Rams box before being cynically hacked down by the foolish centre half.
Big Al showed faith in his main front-man who is known around the streets of Lincoln as RONNIE, and allowed the Estate Agent the chance to make amends for his missed penalty at South Clifton last weekend. The 23-year-old took the pressure on his broad shoulders to send the keeper the wrong way and notch his 12th of the campaign.
However, Ancaster were not making their journey north for the sake of it and refused to lie down. Their equaliser was one for the Christmas DVD stocking collection and a moment Spital Street resident W. Carter will want to forget. The charismatic full-back spooned his header straight into the path of the on-rushing Rams number 9 who made no mistake as he lashed the ball passed Stafford.
The hosts responded in the type of fashion which has made local bookmakers stand up and take notice of a possible quadruple at Social Park this season. A brisk breakaway down the left led to Drabble providing the cross for RONNIE who acrobatically volleyed home his second of the game.
HALF TIME: WELTON 3 ANCASTER RAMS 2
No changes for either side at the interval, and the hosts quickly set about pressuring the Grantham side’s defence. The effervescent Bowey was terrorising the Rams left-back at will, and could, and probably should have increased his sides lead after another well worked short-corner. The Yorkshire-based resident could only slice his shot wide with the goal at his mercy.
Welton finally made it 4-2 on 62-minutes, and the goal inevitable involved the impressive BOWEY. ‘ASBO’ as he is affectionately known by his peers, linked up well in another well-rehearsed short corner, and his left foot drive found its way into the bottom corner.
This goal really knocked the stuffing out of the Rams – and if they thought things couldn’t get any worse, they knew it wasn’t their day as they turned to the sideline to see Dhindsa stripped and ready to enter the fray. The versatile accountant’s pedigree in acknowledged from the length of breadth of Lincolnshire. The 22-year-old famously put Scunthorpe side Park Tigers into administration in 2004 with a trademark header, and its fair to say the Tigers have never recovered.
Dhindsa was immediately in the action as he drove at the Rams backline with the pace and venom we come to expect from the whiskey loving winger. The fifth goal soon came, and it was that man DHINDSA in on the act again to notch his second of the County Cup campaign. He really is a joy to watch at times, and he showed all the trickery in his locker to nutmeg the Rams centre half and calmly slot the ball into the bottom corner of the net. The celebration which followed, was nothing short of ridiculous as he performed the type of merry jig which is often seen in action on the Ritzy dance floor on a Friday night.
Welton completed the scoring on 82-minutes through COUPLAND. ‘The Artist’ as he likes to call himself pounced on another defence lapse in the Ancaster defence, and struck the ball home in uncompromising fashion.
The final whistle blew and the home fans happily walked home to their Sunday dinners after witnessing another goal-fest at Social Park.
FULL TIME: WELTON 6 ANCASTER RAMS 2
MATCH RATINGS:
P. STAFFORD (4) 5 – An afternoon to forget – hope to see his best soon
W. CARTER (6) 7 – Grew in stature after error
S. CLIFFORD (4) 5 – Must improve form in coming weeks
R. TAYLOR (7) 8 – Solid as Hadrian’s Wall
T. BOWEY (8) 9 – Words fail me, simply sublime
N. STOCKS (7) 8 – Tenacious and determined display
S. COUPLAND (7) 8 – Constant threat, scintillating at times
T. WILKINSON (7) 7 – Will work on finishing, good to see him back
J. DRABBLE (7) 7 – I thought I played pretty well
S.WARD (7) 7 – Good movement, poor finishing for a man of his calibre
R. DRABBLE (8) 8 – Getting back to his best, powerful as an Ox
SUBS:
J. DHINDSA 8 – He goes to our left, he goes to our right – lovely goal
M. DALEY 6 – Not enough time to impress, can’t wait to see him on Dec 16th
M. BREWER 6 – Vintage Brewer, comical at times – a joy to play with
Attendance: 65
8 visitors
By Joe Drabble - Chief Sports Writer