30/11/08 Welton Make Tuff Work Of Woodcocks

After a week off to rest aching limbs, Welton Reserves arrived at Social Park relatively upbeat despite the mass of players hobbling around with damaged quads after Coach MD had the team performing 6 year old gym routines at the previous training session. The pitch had been prepared the goals were up, but the was a sombre mood as previous man of the match Matt ‘Mayhem’ Wilkinson forgot his Christmas jingle to prepare the troops mentally, added to this a furious Welton Girls Chairman was seen loitering outside the changing room after the previous nights shenanigans, leaving one player, naming no names late out to warm up!

The game began with Welton fielding a make shift team with only 12 players available including a injured goalkeeper, and a ‘man’ playing in tights and a thong, local pimp Alexander Neville Munn. Welton began the game strongly trying to release the pace of Ryan Ottewell down the flanks, with a nice mixture of long and short passing by the two lynch pins in midfield Mark Daley and the man only known as Scally. The mounting Welton pressure began to tell as the corner count grew and grew, with both Munn and Ottewell placing the ball on James ‘The Mole’ Mulhall’s head time after time only to be headed high or wide. Mulhall was grateful of the deliveries put in, replying “keep sticking them on my head one will come”. The Welton faithful are still on the sidelines waiting for this however.

Eventually Welton made the breakthrough, a long Munn effort forced a save from the Woodcocks keeper, and the following corner was swept home by man of the moment (in more ways than one) from all of 6 yards. It was a real net buster, and took the versatile Carlile to 4 goals in his last 4 games. Welton continued to push forward for the remainder of the first half but failed to build on their lead, and as the half time whistle blew the score remained 1-0.A half time team talk began with care taker boss Simon ‘Fabio’ Clifford putting in his two penneth on what he saw was happening on the pitch.

The second half began in much the same manner, but with Scally having to leave the field after making one tackle to many and pulling a hamstring. He was replaced by the tenacious Richard West making a rare Reserves appearance. He then went to partner Mayhem up front, closing down the Woodcocks defenders by any means necessary, rugby tackles from West and general annoying kicking at ankles from the goalkeeper come striker Mayhem. Woodcocks did look slightly more dangerous in second half as Welton failed to capitalise on more opportunities, and things got worse as the notorious ‘16’ managed to do what he’d been trying all game, injure someone. The unlucky recipient was the tireless Ottewell who was carried off after a knee high tackle nearly left him pulling studs out of his leg with his teeth.

Welton then dropped down to 10 men and tried to hold onto the lead that they had. Then in a sudden twist, a hopeful long ball from the Welton defence dropped over Mayhems left shoulder, who let fly with a spectacular volley from 20 yards which flew into the keepers top left corner. After that Woodcocks through everything forward and the tiring Welton legs were beginning to get caught, and but for a couple of fine saves from the injured Michael Jones in the Welton goal the score line could have been different, Gary’ Geezer’ Evans was found guilty of trying to let a ball run out that was never going to reach but Welton held out for the three points with a priceless 2-0 win to keep the pressure on at the top.

Tommy’s Man of the Match = Daniel Carlile

M. Jones – 8 – Did well with what he had to do, especially with no left foot.
G. Evans – 7 – Played solid, a few wayward headers. Booked.
J. Mulhall – 7 – Missed a hatful of opportunities, also missed a 20 yard slide tackle, but defended well.
D. Carlile – 9 – Swept up at the back well, tried to advance and create width when possible. Scored.
M. Daley – 8 – Tried to keep it simple with a good display of passing.
Scally – 7 – Put in some big tackles, hobbled off early in the second half.
A. Munn – 8 – Engine room got forward and back all game.
R. Brothwell – 7 – Struggled from the night before in the first half, played better in the second half.
M. Hardwick – 7 – Didn’t see a great deal of the ball.
R. Ottewell -7 – Ran his socks off as ever, good corners, left the game injured.
M. Wilkinson – 8 – Worked tirelessly up top, and scored a wonder goal.
R. West – 7 – Did a job! Worked hard, could have won a penalty.