Welton Rovers 2 Shepton Mallett 2: This Good Friday local derby at West Clewes had everything, glorious Spring sunshine, a vocal bumper crowd of around three hundred and a cracking game of football that saw the points shared at the end.

Within a minute and a half of the game getting started Welton found themselves a goal behind, a disputed free-kick was awarded to Shepton out on the left and Callum Goulds delivery roared into the Welton box where it was met by Fin Haines and the ball struck the back of his boot and flew into the far corner of the Welton net, much to the delight of the large numbers of Shepton supporters who had made the short trip over the Mendips.

Welton pulled themselves together and an effort from Jordan Savery went over the bar. Welton continued to press and Shepton keeper, Tom Easterbrook, was on top form to save from Will Goulds close range shot.

The ball was quickly released and found Shepton player manager Aaron Seviour in the Welton half, there was a big shout for offside but the assistant referee kept his flag down so Seviour raced towards goal and calmly placed the ball past Dom Oakes in the Welton goal to make it two for the visitors.

Welton responded again and Easterbrook saved well again to deny Courtney Charles. Owen Punselie then saw his overhead kick beat the keeper but fly inches wide of the Shepton goal. As half-time approached Punselie raced into the Shepton area only to be brought down and referee Knowles immediately awarded Welton the penalty. Up stepped Welton captain Lewis Russell who firmly planted the spot kick high into the visitors net to pull a goal back for Welton at the break.

The second half began with Welton pressing but being very weary of the counterattack danger from Shepton. However, in the fifty fourth minute the game changed again when Charles was brought down in the Shepton penalty area and the visitors had no complaints as referee Knowles awarded Welton their second penalty of the game. Up stepped Russell again and he delivered another quality spot kick to equalise for Welton and send the Green Army into seventh heaven.

Welton weren’t relaxing and were going all out for the winner, a cross from the right from Will Gould was met by Punselie who rose above the defence and his firmly struck header rocked the underside of the Shepton bar and dropped down and was cleared. Welton continued to press and a cracking shot from Lewis Hunt saw Easterbrook pull off a brilliant one handed save to deny Welton a third goal.

As the game went into added time a long range effort from Archie Morris flew over the Shepton bar.

In the end the points were shared and the game was a very good advert for non league football. Bob Allard