With Weltons Premier league clash with Tower Athletic abandoned at the eleventh hour it was once again left to the Reserves to take centre stage and what a show they put on dumping Fred Quibbell cup favourites St Giles out in a 4-3 thriller on a Social Park pitch that looked more like a sheep field than a football pitch.
Goals from Ryan Ottewell, Kev Ryan, Alex Munn and Matt Gordon were enough to see Welton progress to the semi final. They were once again helped by the fact that for the second game in a row Weltons opposition were reduced to 8 men.
Welton lined up with Michael Jones in goal sporting purpley looking hair, a back three of Westy, Mulhall and Carlile across the middle were Ottewell on the left Hardwicke on the right with a midfield trio of Kelsey, Munn and Matt Gordon, Kev Ryan and the in form Mayhem starting up top.
The sides went in at half time level at one a piece after Ryan Ottewell scrambled home an equaliser for the Social who had earlier fallen behind to a sloppy goal bundled home after a free kick was not dealt with by the defence.
After Scally and Dalys half time team talk and with the John Stanham stand rapidly filling up with home supporters the Socialites returned for the second half in confident mood but the feel good factor at Social Park soon turned sour as St Giles forward Danny Bee found space in the box to tap home after more shambolic defending from the Social.
The Socialites didn’t let their heads drop though and the next half an hour was an absolute classic. Welton restored parity when midfield playboy Alex Munn was tripped in the box leaving the referee no choice but to point to the spot. Clearly feeling cheated by this decision the fine young gentleman of St Giles well and truly lost the plot, launching a tirade of abuse at the match official who after being called a bald c#*t was forced to issue the first red card of the morning. The scenes that followed were incredible as the St Giles lads didn’t learn their lesson from this red card and continued to abuse the referee who promptly sent off another one of the St Giles back line.
After this lengthy delay up stepped Kev Ryan to drill the ball into the top corner however the big centre forwards celebrations were cut short as he was ordered to retake after an over eager Mayhem had encroached. It mattered not though as Ryan smashed home again to make it 2-2.
St Giles to their credit went with a bizarrely attacking line up once they went down to 9 men throwing no caution to the wind they appeared to line up 2-3-4 which left them vulnerable to Socials quick counter attacks and had Ryan Ottewell had his shooting boots on Welton could have gone on to win the game a lot more comfortably than they eventually did.
Welton took the lead for the first time in the game when a scramble in the area fell at the feet of Alex Munn who coolly slotted home to make it 3-2, Moments later Munn was the victim of a hideous 2 footed lunge from St Giles forward Danny Bee who had been getting wound up all game by the wwte (welton womens transit elite) the mouthy forward didn’t even wait to see the card be brandished and walked off straight away screaming as many swear words as he could at what he called the bunch of village wan*#rs.
Still the drama was far from over though as the 8 men of St Giles somehow managed to equalise much to the delight of number 12 who had a few choice words for Welton hooligan Elaine Wilkinson.
Having equalised the Division 3 outfit were beginning to look like the team most likely to grab the winner as Welton sat deeper and deeper and lost all their shape.
The game was eventually decided though by Matt Gordon who lashed home from 10 yards after more shambolic defending from St Giles in their own area. The ball fell to the feet of Gordon who made no mistake and sent Social Park into delirium. Welton hung on for a famous victory which means that they are in the semi final and they go into that match as favourites having already beaten Newton United of Division 6 once this season. After the game in the true spirit of sportsmanship St Giles offered to fight anyone who fancied it and declined the generous offer of beers and a sandwich after the game.
Match Ratings
Jones (7) eccentric performance from the entertaining stopper
Westy (8) stook to his task well against an auquad opponent
Mulhall (7) soldiered on. looked to be carrying a knock.
Carlile (7) good outlet at full back
Ottewell (7) constant threat, stretched the game well
Munn (8) strong performance, got stuck in.
Kelsey (7) always showed for the ball
Hardwicke (7) excellent delivery from the right
Gordon (8) Match winning hero
Ryan (8) confidently slotted home from the spot.
Mayhem (7) energetic performance, genuine handful
Subs
Daly (7) assured on the ball
Carters crackers
Westy ***
Munn**
Gordon*
Can we have you?
Number 6 was their best player by a country mile but wouldn’t really want any of them to be honest.
You're not very good!!
you know the saying nice lads thick as ............