Welton Sports Afc progress into the last eight of the Kelly Read after a great second half comeback against division one leaders Anglers FC
On a blustery morning Welton lined up with the same back four as last week of Phil (Big Time) Kelsey, Danny Carlile, Dave Kirkbride and Connor Smith protecting the ever present Mathew (Mayhem) Wilkinson in goal. A midfield five of Lee Cooper, Ross Henderson, Joel Sharpe, Alex Munn with Tom bowey getting the late nod due to Andrew Wilkinson failing a late fitness test, jason Baratt given the lone striker role. Subs included Mulhall, Smith and Metheringham.
The elements threatened to ruin what should of been a good footballing encounter with the division one and two leaders locking horns. After around twenty minutes a long punt forward caught welton's rear guard unaware and Craig Bridge plucked the ball out of the sky and finished neatly to put the home side 1-0 up. This knocked the stuffing out us a little and we were unable to really get the ball down and play. Ten minutes later another long cross field ball was expertly taken down by bridge again and a looping shot beat mayhem to put the home side 2-0 up. Welton had really not got going and the half time whistle gave us a chance to regroup and take on board the managers thoughts.
After a tactical change Connor moved to left midfield and tom bowey alongside jason, reverting back to our usual 3-5-2 formation. This proved to do the trick as welton started carving out some good passages of play and chances were starting to flow. After a series of corners Welton finally made the breakthrough with lee copper taking out everything in his path to power home a header. Welton's tails were now up and it was no long before another cynical foul was awarded our way around 20 yards out. As the Anglers defence were still getting organised Jason Baratt curled a lovely free kick into the bottom left hand side. This had the fans on their feet and Welton now sensed the game was turning in their favour.
It was left to our pint sized assassin Tom Bowey to deliver the final blow as he raced onto a through ball to expertly lob the keeper from 18 yards to make it 3-2. There were rapturous celebrations as bowey revealed his "Why always me" t-shirt in homage to the brainless Man City striker Mario Balotelli. There were a few nervous moments as Welton saw out the final ten minutes to book their place in the last 8 of the Kelly Read Cup in their first outing.
Final Score 3-2
Moley's Magicians
Lee Cooper ***
Ross Henderson **
Jason Baratt *