This weekend sees Welton S&SC start out on the long and winding County Cup Road against Fairdeal Carpets of Grimsby. A road that Welton Boss Al Taylor hopes will lead back to Sincil Bank.
“I see absolutely no reason why we can’t go a heck of a long way in this competition. And providing we get a couple of decent draws in the early rounds and home advantage in the latter rounds, I expect us to be getting at least to the Semi Finals.”
“We were unlucky last year where had it not been for a shoddy referee we could have gone a long way in last years cup.” Taylor told the Welton news.
This Sundays opponents are bottom of the 4th division in Grimsby. So far this season they have played 4 lost 3 drawn 1 and conceded 18 goals along the way so the bookys have Welton down as dead certs to reach the next round and even Welton boss Taylor admits he is optimistic about progressing to the next round.
“Their record isn’t great so far this season but after the start we have made we don’t fear anyone and we know that along with teams like Millers, Seven Seas and Pepperells we are one of the teams no one wants to face. And we feel we will beat whoever is put in front of us whether it’s the best team in Grimsby or the worst.”
“We will not be taking them likely though as we know anything can happen in the Cup and I will be fielding my strongest eleven to ensure we win, and win well to send a message to every team in the county.”
Taylor has almost his whole first team squad to choose from with Sam Gordon Craig Cosgrove and Joe Drabble the only players definitely unavailable while Joe Snookes and veteran defender Ross Taylor are both still struggling to shake off ankle injuries
Welton are boosted by the return of Ossiah in goal and Simon Clifford has fully recovered from a nagging knee injury after coming through last weekends reserve match unscathed and he will be pushing for a start.
For the first time this season Big Al is in a position to name an unchanged side from the team that defeated Tower although Taylor does have a slight headache in figuring out his best strike force. Peter Suttons reluctance to play on the right wing means that he James Drabble and Scott Coupland are all vying for the centre forward positions with S Clifford likely to start on the right hand side of midfield after impressing in that position as a second half substitute against Tower.
Welton starting eleven (from)
Ossiah
Dhindsa
Snookes
Carter
Taylor
Warman
Stocks
C Wilkinson
T Wilkinson
S Clifford
Clifford L
Sutton
James Drabble
Coupland