After last weekends successful completion to the Ron Eaglen Cup Journey this Sunday sees the end of Weltons most difficult journey. The County Cup Final!
In the second of our three part trilogy we look back on Weltons thrilling journey to this Sundays County Cup Final against FC Milan a road that has seen Welton defeat 6 different opponents from all across Lincolnshire scoring 29 goals and conceding 13.
05/10/08 FAIRDEAL CARPETS (H) COUNTY CUP ROUND 2 W 2-1
Weltons journey began with what on paper at least appeared to be a perfect way to get their campaign underway. Fairdeal Carpets of Grimsby Division 4 didn’t seem like it was going to be too big of an ask for Welton, But what transpired was quite the opposite. A decent young side pushed Welton all the way. Scott Couplands frist half penalty was cancelled out early in the second half and it was down to Tom Wilkinson to settle the tie with a scrappy late winner.
02/11/08 THE NEWCASTLE (H) COUNTY CUP ROUND 3 W 6-4 aet
Boston based side The Newcastle were very difficult opponents. Flying high in their own top flight. Welton needed extra time to overcome the physical Boston side with the score tied at 3-3 after 90 minutes but Weltons fitness proved to much for the Boston Boys when they steamrollered them with three goals in the opening period of extra time. Two goals each for Drabble, Coupland and Luke Clifford did the trick for Welton.
07/12/08 CRANWELL PSC(A) COUNTY CUP ROUND 4 6-3
The bleak mid- winter had well and truly set in when Welton traveled to unfancied Cranwell PSC. A frozen pitch threatened to halt proceedings but kick off was delayed by half an hour. Welton nearly wished that the game had been called off as the Socialites delivered one of their worst performances of the season and fell behind within seconds of the start to an absolute screamer from the Cranwell winger. Welton fell behind on three separate occasions before eventually overcoming Cranwell. Three goals from Scott Coupland, a brace from Neil Stocks and Craig Cosgroves first goal for the club eventually saw Welton squeeze past Cranwell.
11/01/09 JANNEYS ALLSTARS(A) COUNTY CUP ROUND 5 W 7-4
Weltons 5th round clash with Division 3 Scunthorpe side Janneys Allstars eventually got played after being postponed the previous week and being moved to an afternoon kick off. A titanic struggle ensued as Weltons first visit to Quibbell Park Stadium looked like being an embarrassing one as Weltons defence produced another shambolic display. Luckily Welton had enough going forward and goals from Tom Wilkinson, Neil Stocks, Sam Gordon, Luke Clifford, Scott Coupland and a James Drabble brace sent Welton into the quarter finals. This game will also be remembered for Clive Wilkinsons navigational skills sending the victorious Socialites to the wrong pub!
01/02/09 QUEEN BESS (H) COUNTY CUP QUARTER FINAL 3-1
This tie always looked like it would be a tough one against Scunthorpe Premier Division side Queen Bess and those in attendance at Social Park were not disappointed by a tense quarter final. Luke Clifford opened the scoring with an absolute rocket of a free kick from Luke Clifford but they were promptly pegged back and the sides went in at half time with the score deadlocked at 1-1. With extra time looming large it was James Drabble who was the hero as he felled his nemesis Dippy with a piledriver to his never regions and smashed home the loose ball with ten minutes to go. Simon Clifford put the gloss on the victory in injury time and Welton were left as Lincolns sole representative in the tournament.
01/03/09 SOUTH YORKSHIRE (A)COUNTY CUP SEMI FINAL W 5-0
A packed Quibbell Park Stadium was again the venue for the Socialites in what turned out to be a surprisingly easy Semi Final against Scunthorpe Premier Division high flyers The Auld South Yorkshire. The Scunthorpe side were reduced to ten men after half an hour and from that moment on it was one way traffic but it was an unlikely source who made the crucial breakthrough as Jamie Chesman claimed his first goal for the club. Further goals from Luke Clifford, Scott Coupland, Neil Stocks and James Drabble saw Welton run out comfortable winners as the Scunthorpe side completely lost their heads and finished the game with 8 men.
So their you have the Journey so far, Hopefully for all connected with the club this journey will be successfully completed this Sunday against Grimsby Premier League side FC Milan at Sincil Bank. Welton will need all the spirit and quality of last weeks Ron Eaglen Cup triumph and more if they are to be the first Lincoln side for over a decade to lift the County Cup.