WELTON Rovers went down to a 3-2 home defeat against Nailsea & Tickhanham in the Premier Division of the Jewson Western League in mid-week.

However, this was a vastly improved team performance from Welton and they can count themselves very unlucky that they did not get their first points of the season.        

Welton had two chances early on in the game but they were denied by the visitors keeper Jakob Glover. 

However they were not to be denied and took the lead in the 20th minute. A quality corner from the right from Kyle Tooze was met by Shomari Sengor whose first time volley thundered into the visitors net. A minute later a great effort from Tash Linton was palmed away at full stretch by Glover. 

However the visitors equalised in the 25th minute when Nailsea striker Shea Mannings finished off a good attack with a shot that flew into the corner of the Welton net. 

Kieran Smith then thought that he had restored the lead for Welton when his goal bound strike was tipped round the post by Glover. 

On the stroke of halftime an unstoppable 30 yard thunderbolt from Miles Hardidge flew into the back of the net to give the visitors an underserved halftime lead.

It was a lively start to the half from both sides but it was Welton who got the breakthrough when they equalised in the 55th minute. A corner from the right from Tooze landed in the mix and the ball fell to Jonathan Linton and he brilliantly curled his effort into the roof of the Nailsea net. 

Welton keeper Freddy Larmar was then on hand when he tipped over the bar a cracking shot from Lucas Vowles. The visitors restored their lead in the 65th minute when Vowles headed home from close range with a power driver of a header. Despite Welton’s best efforts they could not get that all important third goal and it was the visitors who left West Clewes with the all important three points.

Victory enabled Nailsea & Tickenham to move up to ninth in the table, with games in hand on most teams above them. For Welton, it was their 12th straight loss.

Elsewhere, Street missed out on a chance of going top after they lost 1-0 at home to Shepton Mallet who kept in touch with the leaders.

Saltash United won 3-0 at home to St Blazey while Ivybridge Town beat AFC Blazey 2-1 at home.

Bob Allard