This Sunday Welton will look to continue their 100% start to the season away at Ruston Sports.
Rustons are a notoriously difficult team to play against and Welton Boss Big Al Taylor is under no allusions that just because Welton have many key men back available this week, all they have to do on Sunday is turn up. It will be a hard thought battle against a very good side. In an interview with the Welton news Taylor said.
“Rustons are a decent side who will be up the top end of the table come what May. We have got off to a superb start this season with our depleted squad, but that start will count for nothing if we slip up on Sunday.”
Rustons have played one game so far this season where they were beaten 4 1 away to champions GE Millers, So this is a good chance to see just where Welton are in relation to Millers. If Welton win on Sunday they will go 6 points clear of Millers although the champions will have two games in hand on Welton, it is still better to have the points on the board.
“If we win on Sunday that puts us in a strong position, but Rustons will be up for it and we will have to match them physically and win the early battle then hopefully our quality will win through in the end.” Said Taylor.
Taylor has virtually his whole squad to choose from for the first time this season, With Joe Drabble and Craig Cosgrove the only two players who are definitely unavailable Taylor admits that the selection headache for this week is proving very difficult.
“I’ve got a lot of men back this week. I’m at full strength apart from Craig Cosgrove and Joe, we also think Rossco is about a week away. The back three picks itself but I’ll be monitoring the midfielders and forwards at training this week.”
Welton have used 11 different men in midfield already this season. Gordon, C Wilkinson, Dhindsa, Dayley, Ottewell, Warman, T Wilkinson, S Clifford, Joe Drabble have all appeared once while Stocks and Luke Clifford are the only two to have played both games. With Dhindsa now a firm feature of the defence and Dayley, Ottewell and Warman all likely to be included for the reserves that leaves four players fighting it out for three midfield places. All the players listed have given decent accounts of themselves so far. In the opening game of the season Craig Wilkinson virtually ran the midfield single handedly so he would probably feel unfortunate not to make the eleven but with the return of last seasons top scorer Scott Coupland who will be in strong contention for a start this Sunday either in attack or midfield, Taylor has a plethora of talent at his disposal but inevitably some people will be left disappointed. Taylor added;
"If I could pick them all I would but I can only pick eleven starters and three subs, It's tough on the lads on the bench, but I will select a side that I feel will go out there on Sunday and get the job done. The team is more important than individuals"
Welton starting eleven (probable)
GK Osiah
CB Dhindsa
CB Snookes
CB Carter
LMF Clifford L
DMF Stocks
CMF C Wilkinson
CMF ?
RMF Gordon
CF ?
CF ?