Welton gained a well earned point in their struggle to avoid the drop in a feisty encounter at West Clewes against Sherborne.

After their mid-week point away to Bridport, Welton were hoping to build on this performance and started strongly with Tom Knighton and Dan Cottle causing problems for the visitors’ defence. Sherborne responded with a long range shot from Harry Montacute which went wide.

Mark Cains saw his shot flash across the Welton goal. However, the visitors took the lead in the twentieth minute when a cross from the right was met by Elliot Mann, in space, in front of goal, and he bundled the ball into the Welton net.

Welton responded in style and great play from Chris Pile saw him find Lewis Dunn and his first time shot went wide of the Sherborne post. Welton continued to press and were rewarded in the 35th minute when a free kick in the middle of the Sherborne half saw the ball delivered right into the mix where keeper, Jamie Beal, managed to palm the ball away, only to see it fall at the feet of Joe Garland, who slotted the ball into the net. Just before the half-time whistle, the visitors lost forward, Raith Plant, with a nasty head injury that saw him taken to hospital.

The second half began with strong play down the left flank from Pile, his quality cross was met by Knighton, but his powerful header flew over the bar. Knighton then broke through the static Sherborne defence but was closed down by keeper, Beal, but managed to get his shot away, only to see the ball land on top of the net.

Sherborne began to press and class football from Cains saw him beat two Welton defenders only to see his effort curl wide of the Welton post. Minutes later, the visitors had their keeper, Beal, to thank as he stopped a certain Welton goal from Knighton with an excellent block.

At the other end, Welton keeper, Sam Lewis, pulled off an outstanding save to deny the lively Cains, as both sides went all out for the second goal. Right on the stroke of full time, the Green Army thought the deadlock had been broken, a corner from the right for Welton saw the ball cleared to the edge of the area, where it was met by Welton Captain, Steve Bridges. His volley roared towards the net, past the keeper, only to see Sam Farthing on the goal line jump and head the ball onto his own bar, clearing to deny Welton the winner.

Bob Allard