Welton S&SC moved into the last 16 of the Ron Eaglen Cup on Sunday morning with an entertaining 5-3 win at Premier League rivals FVA Jerusalem. A goal each for Scott Coupland and Jason Tinkler had been matched by efforts from Jonny Bell and Luke Forbes to send the sides in at half time level but a dazzling second half hat trick from Luke Clifford proved to be the difference between the sides as Welton edged through to face Ivy Tavern in the next round.
Welton made one change from last weekend as Joe Snookes was reinstated to the Welton back four in place of Ross Taylor.
Both sides struggled to play any decent football to start with in tricky blustery conditions but the Socialites created a couple of glorious chances and Jason Tinkler in particular was guilty of one of the misses not just of the season but perhaps the miss of all time after Scott Coupland squared the ball to his strike partner but somehow Tinkler contrived to miss the ball all together from two yards out.
Welton were made to pay for these early misses on the quarter of an hour mark when a loose ball fell kindly for Jerusalem on the edge of the area, Luke Forbes rolled the ball into Jonny Bell who turned and planted a right footed effort into the top corner giving McGann absolutely no chance.
Much like last week though Welton responded magnificently to going a goal down and soon gained parity when Jason Tinkler made amends for his earlier miss. Matt O Halloran found some space in the centre of the park and played through a wonderful through ball to Tinkler who chipped the ball over the advancing Schofield neatly with his left foot to make it 1-1.
Tinkler turned provider as Welton edged ahead in the 29th minute when he again burst onto a through ball to round Schofield before unselfishly squaring across to Scott Coupland to tap in from a couple of yards out.
As ever with Welton against Jerusalem though the game continued to see saw backwards and forwards as Jerusalem grabbed what appeared to be an unlikely equaliser when indecision in the Welton back line lead to Luke Forbes firing home a superb left foot volley from the edge of the area again leaving McGann no chance what so ever.
HALF TIME: FVA Jerusalem 2-2 Welton S&SC
Playing into the wind seemed to play into Welton’s hands in the second period as the balls were holding up better for the Socialites rather than running straight through to the Jeru keeper and Jeru were experiencing similar problems to what the Socialites did in the first half with the Welton defence gobbling up any balls that were sent their way.
Welton created a couple of decent chances to re take the lead but it was left to Luke Clifford to drag his side out of the predicament they found themselves in.
Neil Stocks played the ball through the Jeru defence to Clifford who surged towards Schofield in the Jerusalem goal, Clifford rolled back the Years by thumping the ball low past Schofield from 25 yards out with a ferocious left footed strike.
The Powerful winger looked hungry for more and he was able to give his side a two goal cushion on 65 minutes when another ball over the top to him was dispatched expertly on the half volley with his left foot again this time shooting across goal and in off the post.
This goal was the cushion Welton needed and despite pleading with the Management team to be taken off Clifford still had time to complete his hat trick 5 minutes later when Will Carters ball forward was again latched onto by Clifford. Clifford rounded Jerusalem’s replacement goalkeeper and tucked the ball away to complete his first hat trick of the season.
That proved to be Cliffords last action of the game as he was withdrawn to a standing ovation from his Grandad but their was still time for Jerusalem to pull a goal back and ensure a slightly less comfortable last 5 minutes for Welton when Josh Schofield finished well after getting on the end of a long ball forward.
Welton Now move into the last 16 where the questionable Ron Eaglen Cup draw has thrown out another all Premier League tie away at Ivy Tavern who overcame holders FSC Victory.
FULL TIME: FVA Jerusalem 3-5 Welton S&SC