DESPITE losing 4-1 at home to Buckland Athletic, Welton Rovers gave a much improved display and if they hadn’t been reduced to ten men and defensive frailties in the last ten minutes the outcome might have been a lot different.

The game got underway on a bright chilly afternoon at West Clewes and it was a lively start from Welton that saw them putting the visitors defence under pressure.

Good play from Tyler Linton saw him wriggle through the Buckland defence and fire in a low shot that was well saved low down by Buckland keeper Adam Speedhouse-Evans.

This was followed up by a curling shot from Kieran Smith that was again saved by the keeper. Welton’s continued pressure paid off in the 20th minute when Tyler Linton was found in space on the edge of the area and he beat his marker and thumped his shot into the Buckland net.

Minutes later another good effort from Linton saw his goal bound shoot palmed away at full stretch by Speedhouse-Evans. As Welton pressed great play by full back Harry Peglar saw him twist and turn in the visitors penalty area leaving the defenders all over the place before delivering a quality cross that was eventually cleared by Buckland.

As halftime approached Welton’s defence were working well and the visitors rarely troubled Freddy Harvey-Larmar in the Welton goal.

The visitors had obviously had a special half time team talk as they came out fired up.

They were rewarded five minutes into the half when Ryan Bush met a deflected cross from the right to head home from close range.

Welton responded and a shot on the turn from Kyle Tooze went just wide of the target. Shortly after Tooze received a second yellow card from referee Halford for something said following a decision made and he was off and Welton were reduced to ten men.

As the visitors pressed for the all important second goal Welton keeper Harvey-Larmar was on top form with a succession of top saves. However Welton’s rearguard action was breached in the 80th minute when Buckland fullback Reece Shanley broke through the Welton defence to score. A couple of minutes later Bush got his second and the visitors third when an error in defence allowed him a free effort on goal.

Just before the end Bush secured his hat trick and Buckland fourth when he intercepted a loose ball out of defence and fired home.

Bob Allard