Welton arrived at the Cowpaddle this morning in fine form after thumping today's opposition 2 games in a row and looking towards completing their hat-trick over their premier league counterparts. Players and fans alike had turned up expecting more of the same. However at quarter past 10 there was a genuine threat that the game may not even go ahead after heavy frost the night before meant that the pitch was frozen and potentially very dangerous. Several pitch inspections later the game was cleared to commence at a revised time of 11 o clock. With that Big Al finally allowed his freezing squad to enter the changing rooms much to the relief of Sam Gordon who was showing early symptoms of frost bite in his toes. Upon entering the changing rooms Welton were again greeted by the dreaded green away strip.
Team news
Not for the first time this season Big Al was forced to make wholesale changes to his starting 11 with notable absentees including Curtis (suspended), Bowey (incident with a chair), Stocks (knee) and no Pete Sutton who had work duties. Welton lined up with Mayhem in goal the usual back three of Carter, S Clifford and Taylor the midfield saw Clifford L on the left with Coupland and Gordon the 2 creative midfielders. Big Al opted for experience in the holding midfield role selecting Daley in for the injured Captain with the versatile Dhindsa moving to the right wing. Welton started with Ronnie and Wardy up top. On the bench were Mole, Rash and a welcome return to the Welton set up for Tom Wilkinson who was back after a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a recurring knee injury that cost him his professional career.Not all games on the cowpaddle passed the pitch inspection with Weltons rivals Victory and league leaders Golden Eagle game being postponed. This meant that Welton were in for a hostile reception from the home support who's mindless bellowing from the sidelines drowned out the mindless bellowing from Welton's travelling support on the opposite side of the pitch. Welton started defending the cathedral end, attacking up hill and into a very difficult mid morning sunshine. They started brightly enough though, playing the ball around but just failing to find the killer pass to unlock the travellers defence. The opening goal wasn’t long in coming though when Luke Clifford picked the ball up near the halfway line he then proceeded to trick and power his way past several lunges from the defence and unleashed an unstoppable drive in to the top corner across the keeper. Another memorable strike from the powerful left winger. Unlike in recent weeks this didn’t signal the opening of the floodgates it seemed to stir the travellers into life. Cheered on by a vocal section of the home crowd the travellers charged forward through midfield and were unlucky on several occasions not to restore parity to the scoreboard.
With Welton becoming more and more uncomfortable in possession the Travellers did claim a deserved equaliser when there number 10 latched onto a punt from the defence to lob the stranded Mayhem from fully 30 yards. Despite losing their lead this still didn’t inspire Welton into life and had it not been for the brilliance of Mayhem Welton would have gone behind. Mayhem twice making world class saves one from a 25 yard pile driver which appeared to be flying into the top corner but Mayhem diving at full stretch high to his right somehow kept it out much to the amazement of the home support. Mayhem also saved well from the resulting corner and as half time loomed the travellers centre forward was sent through one on one only to again be denied by Mayhem. Welton trudged off at half time after apparently “being Schooled” Whatever that means?
With Welton becoming more and more uncomfortable in possession the Travellers did claim a deserved equaliser when there number 10 latched onto a punt from the defence to lob the stranded Mayhem from fully 30 yards. Despite losing their lead this still didn’t inspire Welton into life and had it not been for the brilliance of Mayhem Welton would have gone behind. Mayhem twice making world class saves one from a 25 yard pile driver which appeared to be flying into the top corner but Mayhem diving at full stretch high to his right somehow kept it out much to the amazement of the home support. Mayhem also saved well from the resulting corner and as half time loomed the travellers centre forward was sent through one on one only to again be denied by Mayhem. Welton trudged off at half time after apparently “being Schooled” Whatever that means?
Half Time: Travllers Rest 1 - 1 Welton S&SCFC
After tough words from Big Al at half time Welton knew that they had to raise their game. Welton trotted back out to a chorus of jeering from the Golden Eagle section of the crowd who were clearly determined to do all they could to get under the skin of Welton Keeper Mayhem whose Jersey and tights came in for relentless abuse from the moronic Eagle rabble. With the sun on their backs Welton didn’t disappoint with a much improved start to the second half and were creating chances almost at will. The inevitable goal came 10 minutes into the second half again through Luke Clifford. Good work down the right hand side from Dhindsa who tricked his way into the box despite heavy pressure Dhindsa was able to lay the ball across the box to Clifford who slammed the ball in to the bottom corner with his right foot to silence the home support. This clearly had an effect on the Travellers who were beginning to look desperate with some disgraceful challenges flying in. At this moment Big Al saw fit to shuffle his pack introducing Wilkinson for Dhindsa. Wilkinson slotted into the centre of the park with Gordon moving out to the right. From this moment on it was only a matter of time before Welton would extend there lead with Wilkinson and Coupland combining brilliantly at times. The third would come from the spot, with Wilkinson making a trademark burst from the centre of the park into the box he knocked the ball past the keeper and was completely pole axed to the ground. The referee had no hesitation pointing to the spot but perhaps should have given the keeper his marching orders. Amazingly not even a yellow was shown but that didn’t matter to Coupland who converted well from 12 yards down to the keepers left. That effectively ended the game as a contest with the red mist descending over many of the travellers players with bookings coming in quick succession for two of the travellers for unbelievable challenges on Simon and Luke Clifford. Wilkinson was becoming more and more influential in the centre of the park and was twice unlucky not to score. Welton were getting in down the flanks with real ease and this would again prove to be the case for the fourth goal. Gordon and Coupland who was now covering every square inch of mud on the paddle linked up well down the right with Gordon who received the ball from S Clifford he then helped it onto Coupland who then sent the ball over the top for Wilkinson who coolly chipped over the advancing keeper to claim his inevitable and deserved goal. Big Al again shuffled his hand withdrawing Ronnie to be replaced by Rash. What followed then was one of the moves of the season starting at the back with Carter and Mayhem moving through midfield with Wilkinson, Daley and Coupland the ball then made its way out to Gordon who pinged in a brilliant ball that a flying Daley was unfortunate not to score from. The fifth would follow with again more excellent work down the right flank between Coupland and Gordon who played the ball across the goal to Rash who looked certain to score his first for the Club from close range however Rashes effort was somehow kept out by the Travs keeper but he could only parry to Luke Clifford who could hardly believe his luck as he smashed home for his hat trick from 2 yards (sympathies must go out to the net as opta stats show that when the ball hit the back of the net it was moving at 99.9 mph). Big Al then made his final sub with Travellers tiring rapidly the introduction of fan favourite the mole up front in place of Ward must have been the last thing they wanted to see.
Match Ratings
Match Ratings
Mayhem (8)(8) made some world class saves at crucial times
Carter (6)(7) ( No hangover seemed to effect him in the first half. Grew into his new boots)
Clifford (6)(7) solid display voiced his opinion well in the club after
Taylor (6)(7) stood up well to aerial threat
Clifford L (8)(8) hat trick hero superb performance
Coupland (7)(9) Busy display always wanted the ball
Gordon (6)(8) world class delivery from the right hand side
Daley (6)(7) calming influence on his team mates
Dhindsa (6)(7) Out of position created good chances in the second half
Ward (6)(6) Quiet game by his standards
Drabble(6)(6) by his own admission not his best day at the office
Subs
Mulhall (7) little time to make impact. Tidy touch and distribution
Rash (7) needs a goal. took up good positions
Wilkinson (9) ran the show in the second half