Welton S&SC returned to League action with a bang on Sunday thrashing CW Golden Eagle 8-3 at a windswept Cowpaddle. Luke Clifford lead the scorers with a scintillating hat trick, Scott Coupland and Craig Cosgrove both bagged a brace and Jason Tinkler chipped in with one to ensure that the Socialites first League game in over two Months was a win to keep them hot on the heels of FSC Victory.
Welton named an unchanged line up from the side that beat Magnet Tavern with Jason Tinkler replacing Jack McGovern on the bench in Welton’s only change.
Welton kicked with the gale force wind in the first half and took the lead 5 minutes in when Luke Clifford carried through with his pre game threat of “I’m going to shoot from anywhere with this wind.” With great effect.
The Left footed powerhouse left his marker for dead and unleashed what would have been a fairly hefty drive on a normal day but with the wind behind it the keeper barely even saw it as the ball crashed off the underside of the bar and in to give Welton the early initiative.
Welton didn’t rest on their lead though and continued to pile forward looking to take full advantage of the ridiculously strong wind that was blowing them forward.
After squandering a couple of golden opportunities much to the annoyance of assistant Manager Lee Coupland, It was again Clifford who took it upon himself to double the lead.
Scott Coupland was sent through one on one with the keeper he opted to square the ball to Matt O’Halloran but unfortunately Coupland miscued and sent O Halloran wide allowing Eagle to get bodies back to cover. O Halloran kept the ball alive and played it back to Luke Clifford who cut in on to his right foot and fired in low through a crowd of players.
Despite drawing the rage of his Brother for his earlier miss Coupland made amends on the half hour mark when Sam Allmond fed the ball in to him inside the Eagle penalty area, Coupland teased his man into a challenge before knocking the ball past him and lashing home a left footed shot again giving the keeper no chance what so ever.
Welton hammered home their advantage on the stroke of half time, Will Carter jogged half way across the entire Cowpaddle to retrieve the ball for a throw in deep in the Eagle half, Carter would eventually play the ball in to the feet of Craig Cosgrove who turned a couple of Men on the edge of the area and worked enough space to get off a left footed shot that beat the keeper all ends up low to his left.
HALF TIME: CW Golden Eagle 0-4 Welton S&SC
For all Welton’s dominance of the first half, The second half was clearly going to be a completely different game as the true scale of the windy conditions hit Welton for the first time.
Eagle pulled a goal back 5 minutes into the second half when their veteran centre forward picked the ball up 25 yards out and fired a ferocious shot past McGann to give the Eagle a glimmer of hope.
Welton’s response was superb though and they went straight up the other end and restored their 4 goal cushion.
Craig Cosgrove dropped deep to pick up the ball in midfield before playing a wonderful through ball to Luke Clifford who curled the ball round the on rushing keeper with the outside of his left foot to complete a brilliant hat trick.
Back came eagle though to again cut Welton’s lead when their left back blasted home another powerful wind assisted drive from distance to make it 5-2
This goal seemed to stun Welton back into life and a double substitution saw Jason Tinkler and Olly Furness come on to replace Clifford and O’Halloran.
Jason Tinkler and Scott Coupland combined down the left for Coupland to send Tinkler racing down on goal. Tinkler who hadn’t played for over a month exquisitely chipped over the advancing keeper to give the tricky winger a 100% strike rate in his new boots.
Tinkler and Coupland again combined for Welton’s seventh. Coupland again was bareing down on the keeper opted to square to Tinkler who instead of shooting squared back to Coupland who blasted home past two Eagle defenders covering on the line from 8 yards out.
Welton were the architects of their own downfall for Eagle’s third goal when a combination of Tinkler, Coupland, Carter and Furness contrived to spurn a great chance, The Eagle defence eventually punted the ball forward over the top to their centre forward who lobbed the ball over the top of McGann.
Craig Cosgrove completed the rowt after he beat the Eagle offside trap before coolly rounding the keeper and tapping home with his left foot into the empty net.
A brief yet welcome return to League action for Welton who return to Cup action in the next fortnight with massive games against Ivy Tavern in the Ron Eaglen and Tap and Spile in the County Cup Semi Final.
FULL TIME: CW Golden Eagle 3-8 Welton S&SC