Welton suffered a midweek home defeat to bottom club Bitton and can hardly have any complaints about the outcome.

Welton Rovers 1 Bitton 2

Another large crowd had wrapped up warm on a chilly Autumnal evening at West Clewes to watch Welton’s game against lowly Bitton. Welton had early possession as the game got underway and a Ben Wych shot flew high over the Bitton bar. Joe Ellis on a charge was pulled back twenty five yards out for a free-kick to Welton. The set piece came to nothing but a minute later Welton were awarded another one on the left of the Bitton box.

Wych’s short pass to Lewis Russell saw his well struck shot deflected away for a corner. The corner was met by centre back Will Hunter and his strike was deflected away for another corner as Welton pressed their visitors. Russells delivery was met by Joe Ellis but he scooped his shot over the visitors bar. At the other end, Bitton got the ball into Welton net but the goal was disallowed for a blatant foul on Welton keeper, Matt Dunk.

A long range effort from Bitton striker Jamal Chevellfau flashed past the Welton upright as the visitors appeared to have weathered Welton’s early pressure. Bitton got the ball into the Welton net for a second time but again the effort was disallowed by referee Gould this time for handball. Lewis Hunt then broke through the Bitton defence on a charge but skewed his shot wide of the target and minutes later, following good play from Will Gould, the ball fell to Hunt and his goal bound shot was cleared off the line and the deadlock remained as the half-time whistle sounded.

The second half was only a couple of minutes old when Dunk produced an outstanding save low down to his right to deny Charlie Maddison. Another long range shot, this time from Liam Monelle failed to trouble Dunk as the visitors pressed for the opening goal. Welton responded and a cracking shot from twenty yards out by Russell was well saved by Bitton keeper Kai Wilson.

The visitors took the lead just after the sixty minute mark when Connor Mackay launched an unstoppable thunderbolt from out on the left that flew into the Welton net giving Dunk no chance. A few minutes later Mackay got his and Bitton’s second when he turned his marker, drove in and fired another good shot past Dunk and into the Welton net.

Welton manager Tom Smith rung the changes and sub Jed Parfitt was soon in the action and his effort was well saved by Wilson. With five minutes remaining, Welton pulled a goal back when sub Joe Garland met a cross with a brave header that flew into the visitors net. But it was too little too late and Welton ran out of time as they went for the equaliser.

Bob Allard