The league leaders confirmed their position with this hard earned win against an aggressive Welton side. It was a game where each team had a player sent off and , at times, it threatened to boil over. In the end, Jake Brown’s strike , early in the second half , made the difference and the Robins’ run of good results continued.
It may be that United’s opposition are deciding that the best way to knock the Robins from their perch is to ruffle their feathers rather than to try to play superior football. There was some evidence for that view on this blowy Tuesday night. Welton have a poor disciplinary record this season and they didn’t seem too bothered about adding to it in this game. In particular, Morgan Williams, not for the first time, was singled out for “treatment”. United’s energetic and fearless midfield dynamo didn’t rise to the bait and it was significant that the sending off of Welton’s Lewis Hunt was after two ridiculous fouls on Williams in the space of a couple of minutes just before half time.
United only had the man advantage for 13 minutes because Jack Taylor ( scorer of a superlative goal in the first half) got himself sent off for what looked like a head butt. A series of decisions had gone against the Robins in a short period of time and United’s top marksman let his frustrations get the better of him. A three game ban is likely to follow.
Amidst the unpleasantness there was some actual football played. The first threat on either goal was a 25 yard free kick from Taylor that keeper Alfie Kelsey grasped at the second attempt and soon after that a goalbound Tom Llewellyn shot was blocked. Welton responded when Matty Morris ran through a large gap in midfield and crashed a 35 yard effort which was going to dip under the crossbar. Jake Viney had to leap up and back to push it over acrobatically.
United took the lead on 27 minutes and what a goal it was. Viney’s clearance kick was controlled in one touch by Taylor , who was standing in the centre circle. He slipped the ball to the left as he saw the fleet-footed Ollie Hebbard making a run. Taylor continued his own run forwards and when the ball landed back at his feet he smashed it high past Kelsey. An equal to the majestic George King goal against Bitton.
United should have been awarded a penalty kick when Tom Llewellyn was floored after a corner kick but the referee ( very tolerant to this point) said no. Straightaway the ball was launched deep into the Robins’ half. United’s defenders didn’t deal with it as well as they might and Joe Dali-Kemmery got onto the ball. He lashed a shot at Viney which he saved, the ball came back and the second one was saved too. The ball came back again and this time Dali-Kemmery ( who looked a useful young striker) slotted it home left footed. That was after 42 minutes.
After another couple of minutes, Hunt’s indiscretions resulted in two quick-fire yellow cards and United could ponder their half time cuppa with considerations as to how they might ram home the advantage of 11 versus 10.
Welton probably had their best spell in the five minutes after the break without getting anything on target but it was the Robins who did make that man advantage count by scoring their second goal after 52 minutes. Brown cut in from the right side of the penalty area and sent a low, left footed, 15 yard shot across Kelsey and inside the left hand post. Only a few minutes later Taylor got sent off and it was game on again.
Brown tested Kelsey at the near post and a Jacob Spence header from a corner kick went a foot wide of the right post. Welton, although having a fair share of the play, were finding it hard to penetrate a solid looking United defence.
With the game well into time added on , Welton sent Kelsey up to join the attack at a corner kick. After some to-ing and fro-ing the ball was bundled into the net. The “goal” was disqualified either for offside or for a foul , or both!
United were the more creative side, made more chances and deserved to win. The midfield trio of King, Williams and Llewellyn were especially industrious and kept United driving forwards.
Match details:
Bridgwater United:
Jake Viney, Josh Phillips ( Jacob Spence 86), Harry Durant, Ross Edwards, Jordan Greenwood, George King ( Mark Armstrong 77), Morgan Williams,Tom Llewellyn, Jack Taylor, Jake Brown ( Arthur Furness 90+1), Ollie Hebbard ( Conor Hartley 75). Unused Kurt Robinson.
Welton Rovers:
Alfie Kelsey, Jaiden Savery, Matty Morris, Archie Morris, Joe Garland, Jacob Watson, Lewis Russell, Will Hunter, Joe Dali-Kemmery, Will Gould, Lewis Hunt. Subs. Jed Parfitt, Jordan Larraway, Tom Diamond, Joe Ellis, Jack Jenkin.
Date: Tuesday September 6th 2022
Venue: Fairfax Park
Competition: Toolstation Western League Premier
Attendance : 217
Match officials:
Referee: Jordan Lee
Assistants: Steven Redman, Andie Lambourne
Next home match: Saturday September 17th 2022 v Millbrook
- Mark Hollidge
