WELTON Rovers’ interest in this season's FA Vase came to an end when they were comfortably beaten 6-2 by their visitors from South Devon, Ivybridge Town in the second qualifying round. 

On a positive note Welton did score their first goals at home this season.The game got off to a disastrous start for Welton when, after only eight minutes a mess up at the back which saw Welton keeper Alvin Quaye fluff his clearence and the ball fell to Connor Ruse who slotted home from close range. 

A couple of minutes later the lively Owen Pritchard tormented the Welton defence on the left before firing in from the angle into the Welton net. 

Three minutes later he did the same thing and scored from the angle to give the visitors a three goal lead after only 15 minutes. 

Welton were shell shocked but they did try to respond and a corner from the left for Welton was eventually cleared by the Ivybridge defence. 

Just before halftime a fine effort from Kyle Tooze was well saved by Ivybridge keeper Kane Gregory.

The second half began with the visitors pressing for more goals and they were rewarded after five minutes when Sean Thomson picked up on a loose ball on the edge of the Welton area to fire home. 

However to be fair to Welton’s players they kept going and were rewarded in the 65th minute when excellent play from Tooze saw him square the ball into the middle where it was met by Tash Linton who thumped his shot into the back of the net to score Welton’s first home goal of the season. 

Minutes later Welton substitute Kieron Smith got a second when he drilled in a cracking shot into the back of the net giving keeper Gregory no chance. 

As Welton pressed for more their defensive frailties raised their head again and Ivybridge sub Rory Busby pounced on a mistake to score number five and just before the final whistle Busby got his second and the visitors sixth when he lobbed the keeper.

Having had a torrid time so far in the Jewson Western League, there were some positives to take for Rovers in this game with two of the goals not coming until late in the tie. Obviously there is a need to stop making errors which lead to the opposition scoring goals. 

Bob Allard