Welton kicked off their 2008/09 County Cup campaign when Fairdeal Carpets were the visitors to Social Park. Since Weltons last game against Tower Athletic the Welton camp have been in turmoil regarding the players off field behaviour but the players who reported for duty appeared to have heeded Big Als warning and stay off the alcohol the night before and all appeared to be in good condition and ready for action.
Welton welcomed back Rick Ossai in goal who was protected by a familiar back three of Carter, Dhindsa and Snookes, The midfield quintet consisted of top scorer Luke Clifford on the left and Brother Simon on the right. For the third consecutive game Welton named the same strong midfield trio of Neil Stocks, Craig and Tom Wilkinson. They were hoping to supply the service to the front two of Coupland and Sutton.
The bookys had Welton down as red hot favourites to progress to the next round as opponents Fairdeal Carpets sit rock bottom of the 4th tier of the Grimsby Sunday league but to many peoples surprise at Social Park, the visitors were actually a fairly decent side and from the opening exchanges it was obvious that this game was not going to be the walkover many people predicted. Weltons build up play was good early on and had the quality of the finishing matched the quality of the build up Welton may well have been in for an easier morning but as it was many of the Welton players were guilty of missing easy chances.
One thing that was obvious from the off was that the Carpets were not just here to get rolled over, they were here to kick the living daylights out of the Welton players. There objective was made easier by a poor performance from the match official who failed to stamp his authority on the game early on with the Fairdeal midfielders getting away with murder especially number 8 who somehow managed to make it through the whole game with out picking up a caution.
Welton took the lead in the tenth minute when Scott Coupland converted from 12 yards. Pete Sutton was sent racing through on goal by Carter, Sutton knocked the ball round the keeper who blatantly charged Sutton to the ground giving the ref no choice but to point to the spot. Upstepped Coupland to send the moronic goalkeeper the wrong way and give Welton the early lead.
Fairdeal were still very much in the game though and had 2 good centre forwards who caused the Social defence problems all morning. Welton should have gone in at the break 2 0 up but Simon Clifford somehow blasted over with the goal at his mercy. Excellent work by Sutton down the left saw the former Sleaford Town forward race through on goal. Sutton unselfishly squared to the on rushing Clifford who somehow put his effort over the bar from 6 yards out. Half time Welton S&SC 1 Fairdeal Carpets 0
Welton returned for the second half after one of the most shambolic half time teamtalks in the history of football. Despite creating numerous chances in the first half and keeping a clean sheet, Welton players were told how they had all been rubbish and many of the players returned to the pitch for the second half wondering what they had done wrong and Weltons slow start to the second half was probably down to many of the Welton players day dreaming about the good old days when it was actually enjoyable throwing on the blue and white shirt.
Welton were promptly pegged back to one all when a scramble wasn’t cleared and the ball broke to Fairdeals number 11 who was probably off side but he made no mistake smashing the ball home from a tight angle. In a second half of very little quality chances were squandered by both teams and some of Weltons passing in midfield looked like that of a side in the 4th Division not that of a side flying the flag for Lincoln in the County Cup.
Welton somehow managed to retake the lead and the goal pretty much summed up the second half. Luke Clifford hammered in a shot from the edge of the area that was spilled by the keeper into the path of Tom Wilkinson who had gambled and followed up with a simple tap in to give Welton the lead again.
Welton created more half chances after that as the visitors poored forward in search of an equaliser but again Weltons finishing was there achillies heel.
A poor result almost turned into a disasterous result for Welton when Fairdeals number 10 burst into the area and slid the ball past Ossai. The forward began to peel away to celebrate but he was somehow thwarted by an unbelievable goal line clearance from Carter who at full stretch poked the ball round the post and ensured that he was the only thing that ended up in the back of the net instead of the ball.
Welton managed to hang on after that and avoid a humiliating upset at the hands of one of the dirtiest teams to play at Social Park in recent seasons.
Match Ratings
Ossia (7) kicking was hit and miss but his handling was superb
Dhindsa (8) towering performance
Snookes (8) marshalled the defence
Carter (7) struggled against decent opposition, great clearance though
Stocks (7) passing was all over the place, but kept asking for it
C Wilkinson (8) pick of the midfielders
T Wilkinson (7) followed up well for the winner
Clifford L (7) wasteful in possession, still Weltons biggest threat
S Clifford (7) miss of the decade
Sutton (7) worked hard up front
Coupland (7) good penalty
Subs
Drabble (8) looked sharp when he came on
Paceys bonus points
Dhindsa ***
Snookes **
C Wilkinson *
Dream team top scorer
T Wilkinson
minutes played(90)........... 2
goals (1)................................5
total.......................................7
Can we have you?
Fairdeals strikers were both decent players and surely play at a higher standard than Division 4. Number 11 took his goal well and was a constant threat throughout.
You're not very good!
Number 8. Absolute moron how he didn't get booked I will never know? not a very good footballer either!