Welton faced shakespeare today with the fans wondering if they could continue their impressive unbeaten run in the league?
After last weeks self imposed media ban while the FA investigate the spitting incident which mared and ignited last weeks fiesty derby with Scothern. We are back online to bring you all the highlights once again.
The squad was tested once again as 1st team regulars james Drabble, alex munn, connor smith and ross henderson were unavailable due to a variety of reasons. This meant welton lined up as follows, mayhem in goal, protected by matt ward, danny, dave and a welcome appearence from adam buckley, a midfield five of lee, alex jackson, joel, phil and bow with jason up top. This left the management trio of a half injured andy wilks on the bench with moley and daly for company.
After a complete farse lead to the changing rooms not being open until 10:35am due to the caretaker missing his alarm and having to bike to the ground as he was still suffering the effects of last nights birthday drinking!! Preperations were far from ideal and it was evident in the opening exchanges.
It was Shakespeare that started the brighter and clearly fancied being the first to take the scalp of the unbeaten league leaders. Welton were looking a little lithargic and did not really get going until a cracking volley stung the underside of the bar from the shakespeare forward. This lucky escape seemed to ignite the welton boys a little and they started to string some good passages of play together as the clock ticked towards a pretty forgettable first half.
Shakespeare started the second half in the same vein determined to kick lumps out of the tricky welton wingers and frankly their centre half should not of been of the pitch after his third horror tackle was finally awarded a yellow card. After around 50 minutes an attack down the welton left hand side resulted in a bouncing ball being smashed from 25 yards on the volley leaving the welton keeper with no chance.
Welton now faced an uphill battle to try and pick themselves up and focus on getting back in the game. The supporters did not have to wait long when a long throw in from jason was flicked on by lee coups and was pounced on by the wee man tom bowey to level the scores at 1-1.
Finally Welton had come alive after an average hour of football, Adam buckley was starting to show his class with his wand like left foot causing shakespeare all sorts of problems. It was a whipped cross that their defence failed to deal with and joel sharp bumbled the ball home from 2 yards out to make it 2-1 with 15 mins to go.
All welton had to do now was hang on to secure the three points and with alex jackson and tom bowey running out of steem the management team put moley and andy wilks on to try and see the game out. A few more chances were created and the game should of been out of sight. However the dreaded long ball was welton's undoing again as the defence failed to clear a long punt and the shakespeare striker slid home the equaliser to make it 2-2 and end welton's winning run of 16/16.
However as the other results came through the vidiprinter it could turn out to be a vital point as there closest rivals AFC Red Lion could only manage a draw against mid table County Hospital.
Welton have confirmed promotion and at least second place, but still need a minimum of another victory to confirm the title as they are 10 points clear with four games to go.
Next weeks away trip to Woodhall Spa could now be a massive game, so supporters are advised to get their early to avoid the traffic congestion.
Club sec