The tie of the round in the Ron Eaglen Cup certainly lived up to it’s billing on Sunday morning as Welton S&SC edged past Ivy Tavern in a thrilling encounter between the two Premier League powerhouses. Welton raced into the lead with 3 goals in 7 first half minutes, There were two goals for Matt O Halloran and a Sam Allmond header that appeared to have the Socialites cruising into the quarter finals only for the Ivy to pull two back before half time and set up a tense second half.
Ivy drew level 15 minutes into the second half through Jamie Chesman’s spectacular own goal but the Socialites eventually rallied and Matt O Halloran hammered home a free kick from the edge of the area with ten minutes to go to make it 4-3 and in the process sent the huge visiting support into raptures and send the Socialites through to face Metheringham in the quarter finals.
Welton once again named an unchanged side for the third Week in a row but the side that had put CW Golden Eagle to the sword the previous Weekend were immediately on the back foot as Ivy stormed out of the traps.
Welton withstood some early pressure and started to play their way into the game with some neat football.
With the Ivy having marginally the better of the opening stages it was the Socialites who struck first on the quarter of an hour mark to knock the wind out of Ivy’s sails.
An Ivy attack was broken up and played forward to Matt O Halloran 30 yards out from goal, O Halloran hit the bouncing ball first time with his left foot and lobbed the ball over the advancing keeper beautifully to give Welton a spectacular lead and crush the Ivy’s morale after they had made a positive start.
The opening goal visibly shook the Ivy defence and the Welton players smelt blood in the water and moved further in front.
Matt O Halloran turned provider this time whipping in a left wing corner to the near post where Sam Allmond had stolen a yard on his marker and clinically headed home from six yards out.
The Ivy defence were in disarray now and Welton further hammered home their advantage when Matt O Halloran fizzed a deep set piece into the near post. O Hallorans goal bound effort deflected in off Ivy defender Gav Bowler and beat the keeper at his near post to completely stun the home supporters who now found themselves three goals down within the space of 7 minutes.
The Socialites were in complete control now but much like O Hallorans opening goal coming against the run of play, Ivy did the same and grabbed a lifeline when Sean Cann headed home a right wing cross from Finn Lynch to give Ivy a glimmer of hope.
This goal fired up the Ivy players and straight from the Welton kick off Referee Steve Fisher appeared set to blow for a foul on Scott Coupland before removing the whistle from his mouth and letting Ivy play on, The Ivy broke down their left wing and a cross was eventually floated in, flicked on to the back post and headed in to send the home fans wild and send the sides in at half time with the score at a pulsating 3-2 to Welton.
HALF TIME: Ivy Tavern 2-3 Welton S&SC
Both sides returned unchanged for the second half with the Socialites looking more assured at the back than they did in the closing stages of the first half but Ivy were back on level terms on the hour mark.
A long clearance forward looked to be fairly comfortable for either Leigh Warman to clear or Jamie Chesman to pass back to the keeper, An awkward bounce and a slight clip on the heel lead to the ball looping up off Chesman’s boot from 30 yards out back towards McGann, Time appeared to stand still for a moment as the ball lifted agonisingly over McGann and nestled in the net to send the home fans absolutely wild.
Having squandered a seemingly untouchable three goal cushion this really was going to be a true test of Welton’s spirit and determination as all the momentum was with the Ivy.
Unsatisfied with the way the game was transpiring the Welton management team made a double substitution bringing on Jason Tinkler and Billy Munro in place of Craig Cosgrove and Jamie chesman with Luke Clifford dropping back to left back.
The second half really could have gone either way with both sides creating half chances and at one point Scott Coupland was denied what appeared to be a legitimate penalty claim it was going to take a moment of magic to decide this thrilling encounter.
A right wing cross into Scott Coupland drew a foul from centre back Bowler and as soon as referee Fisher blew for the free kick there was a sense that the all important moment had arrived with Ivy forward Sean Cann seemingly resigned to the fact that Matt O Halloran was going to score.
Sure enough Welton’s prayers were answered as O Halloran curled a blockbuster of a strike round the wall and into the top right hand corner of the Ivy net to once again give Welton the lead, After huge celebrations infront of an army of Social Supporters only one question now remained, Could Welton hold on.
Ivy once again rolled up their sleeves and through everything forward at Welton but their attacks were finally met with stiff resistance from the Welton defence, Ivy pushed hard and forced a couple of late corners but Welton were able to deal with the threat and held on for another memorable 4-3 win at Sudbrooke drive against a gritty Ivy side.
The Socialites keep their momentum going as they now turn their attention to next Weeks County Cup Semi Final against Tap and Spile with Metheringham lying in wait the Week after in the Ron Eaglen quarter finals.
FULL TIME: Ivy Tavern 3-4 Welton S&SC