THERE were no Christmas presents for Welton Rovers whose long search for their first points of the season continues after they were well beaten 4-0 at home by Saltash United in their latest match in the Premier Divisiion of the Jewson Western Football League.

Star of the show was Saltash striker Rikki Shepherd who scored all four of his side’s goals.

The game got underway on a very heavy pitch at West Clewes and the visitors pressed early on with attack after attack. The Welton defence was performing miracles in keeping the ball out of the net. Shepherd was put through but skewed his shot wide and Tyler Yendle’s goal bound header was pushed away by Welton keeper McKenzie Welsh.

Welton eventually got going and a long range shot from Mason Alden saw keeper Tyler Coombes back peddling to keep the ball out.

Saltash opened their account on the half hour when Shepherd pounced on a long ball and raced through the Welton defence and calmly slotted the ball past McKenzie to open his account.

Just before the halftime whistle sounded Shepherd got his second and the visitors second when he picked up a loose ball in midfield, raced goalwards unchallenged and fired the ball into the Welton net.

The second half saw no let up in the pressure on Welton. In fact in the first ten minutes of the half the visitors cracked the Welton post, thumped the bar, saw the ball cleared off the goal line and Welsh make a superb fingertip save to deny Saltash a third goal.

However Saltash were not to be denied and that man Shepherd was put through the Welton defence again and finished off in style to secure his hat trick and the visitors third goal.

Minutes later he got his fourth when he met a low cross from the right and slotted home from close range.

Just before full time Welton nearly got a consolation goal when good work down the right from Jayden Radway saw him find Issac Adedo who was in space in front of goal, but his first time effort sailed high over the Saltash bar which just about summed up Welton’s afternoon.

Defeat means Welton are still adrift at the bottom of the table - and yet to pick up a point.

Welton’s next home game is Boxing Day when Shepton Mallet make the short trip to West Clewes for the 1pm kick off.

Bob Allard