The fourteen men charged with the responsibility of bringing home the silver were Ossai in goal, Carter, Snookes, Chesman and Taylor across the back. Clifford’s L and S, Stocks and Gordon in midfield with Coupland and Pete Sutton up front. On the bench were Drabble, Bowey and Matt Gordon.
Welton started much the brighter of the two teams and looked like a side determined to prove their recent critics wrong. Welton moved the ball around well on the slick flat turf and at times their football was quite scintillating.
Welton almost took an early lead through Luke Clifford. Sam Gordon drilled over a trademark crossfield pass that was misjudged by the Rustons right back but unfortunately for Clifford and Welton his shot flashed narrowly wide of Phil Mcganns right hand post.
Welton continued to plug away at Rustons and again went close when Scott Coupland placed a shot just wide from 20 yards out. Rustons offered very little from open play but they did look dangerous from set pieces.
Rustons had several corners that were swung in by danger man Kal Smith. Welton and in particular Rick Ossai dealt with everything that they had to throw at them. The only moment of danger for Welton in the first half came when Oli Furness reacted fastest to a loose ball from an uncleared corner but the pacey winger blasted over the bar and almost cleared the roof of the Stacey West stand.
Pete Sutton was looking dangerous up front for Welton and he was unlucky when he dragged a shot just wide from the edge of the area following a mazy run. He maybe also should have scored when he had a free header in the box from a Sam Gordon corner.
Half Time Rustons 0-0 Welton
After an encouraging half time team talk Welton came back for the second half and immediately got back into their rhythm and were rewarded for their attacking positive attitude 5 minutes into the second half.
Pete Sutton won the ball on the half way line and went on a run down the right wing. He jinked his way to the edge of the area and with the help of a slight deflection his shot managed to beat Mcgann and send the Welton fans in the St Andrews stand into raptures as Sutton and the rest of his team mates celebrated in front of the Stacey West Stand. Hi suuuueee!
Welton continued to poor forward and one goal soon became two. Neat interplay between Sutton and Coupland saw Coupland charging through on goal only to be upended by Rustons centre back Billy Foster leaving the referee with no choice but to point to the spot. Up stepped Sam Gordon who drilled home low to the left past Phil Mcgann who had dived the other way.Welton were in complete control now and Rustons appeared to be down and out and Welton really stuck the knife into the heart of Rustons when Scott Coupland gave the Socialites a three goal lead.
A swift break from Simon Clifford resulted in him passing the ball to Pete Sutton. Sutton was unable to get a shot off but he held the ball up and layed it across to Coupland who drilled home high into the roof of the net past a despairing dive from the Rustons keeper and despite a two handed dive from the defender on the line. Rustons looked shell shocked at this point and Welton appeared to be cruising to their first major piece of silverware under boss Big Als leadership.
3 almost became four had it not been for a wonderful save from Phil Mcgann who tipped over a brilliant dipping strike from the rampant Sutton.
Rustons dug in though and with about 15 minutes to go they grabbed themselves a lifeline as Barry Mcgann made no mistake heading home an Oli Furness cross. A Rustons goal hadn’t really looked on the cards at all in the second half but the goal gave them hope and Rustons were looking like the side most likely to grab the next goal and they would have had that goal had it not been for the brilliance of Rick Ossai.
Oli Furness was causing all sorts of problems down the right wing and he again crossed to the edge of the area to a Rustons midfielder who fired a volley goalwards. The ball looked in all the way but somehow Ossai managed to keep it out and Welton scrambled away to safety.
5 minutes later Rustons grabbed a second when a free kick was deflected in off Jamie Chesman and suddenly a remarkable comeback was on the cards.
tempers began to boil over and the referee was forced to book Sam Gordon and Ben Clucas after the two started pushing each other when Gordon reacted to a high challenge by the Rustons substitute on his team mate Will Carter.
Carter was again the victim of a horror challenge from the other Rustons substitute which earnt the frontman a yellow card. The resulting free kick was not Carters finest moment of the match as he spooned the free kick straight out of play, much to the amusement of the packed St Andrews stand. Carter also received a booking for a late challenge on the surging Smith.
Rustons through absolutely everything at Welton including goalkeeper Phil Mcgann. The tired Welton defence were holding firm though and Matt Gordon was introduced to the fold to take the place of younger brother Sam who was forced to withdraw through injury. Ossai again brilliantly saved a long range Ben Clucas drive and as Welton cleared the resulting corner and the referee blew the final whistle and Weltons hard work had payed off.
Carter lead the way in the trophy presentations and each of the Welton heroes collected their winners trophies and last but by no means least came Neil Stocks and Big Al to lift the Ron Eaglen Cup and signal the start of wild celebrations in amongst other places the pitch, the showers, the Social Club, the Social Club toilets and the brave few that survived the afternoon made it into town.
Ruston Sports 2-3 Welton S&SC
Match Ratings
Ossai (10) thank God he came back. Superb!
Carter (9) barely put a foot wrong
Snookes (9) powerful display. Will be missed next week
Chesman (9) dominated everything in the air
Taylor (9) did well against a trick opponent
Cliffford L (9) unlucky not to score early on. Big threat
S Clifford (9) let his football do the talking. Very good!
Gordon (9) calm as you like from the spot
Stocks (9) same old Stocks
Coupland (10) always available for the ball. Took his goal well
Sutton (9) came alive in the second half. Genuine handful
Subs
Drabble. unlucky not to get on. Instrumental in getting to the final
Bowey unlucky not to get on. His time will come.
M Gordon (9) filled in well at the end.
Carters Crackers
Coupland***
Sutton**
Ossai*
Caroles corkers
Ossai***
Coupland**
Carter*
Johnsons jewels
Sutton***
Ossai **
S Clifford *
Grandads greats
Chesman***
Snookes**
Carter*
Paceys picks
Coupland ***
Ossai **
Sutton*
Can we have you?
Oli Furness was probably the pick of the bunch. Caused Taylor a lot of problems in the second half.
You’re not very good!
The banter from the Rustons players before and during the game. They’ve been calling Welton big time in town for weeks and how they were going to easily win. Shouts in the tunnel before the game of “lets f#ck them up” were a really nice touch aswell. Their was only one big time team at Sincil Bank and it wasn’t Welton.