Welton Rovers 0

Wincanton Town 3

Toolstation Western League Division One

Having been won the Team of the Month award for November, Wincanton made the short trip to the league leaders looking to make it 10 games undefeated and seven wins on the trot in what would be their sternest test yet, the leaders undefeated on their own patch had only conceded one goal.

Wincanton started brightly giving Welton no time on the ball and forcing mistakes. Thanks to some quick passing, Louis Irwin, Ryan Pike and Dan Quirke had early efforts but failed to hit the target or test Alfie Kelsey in the Welton goal.

Wincanton took the lead their early dominance deserved on 16 minutes as a poor defensive header put Quirke in on goal, a heavy touch forced him wide but he had the presence to pick out Jamie Thompson on the edge of the box, who cut inside and fired across the goal through a crowded penalty area into the bottom corner.

Wincanton doubled their lead on 24 minutes as a perfectly weighted through ball by Wincanton skipper Dan Wise found Quirke who fired home. Irwin had a couple of other chances in the half to increase Wincanton’s lead further but failed to hit the target as half time arrived with a comfortable 2-0 score line, this reflected Wincanton’s dominance as Nathan Ball was a bystander in the Wincanton goal as Welton failing to register a shot on target.

Wincanton continued to dominate proceedings after the restart and Kelsey was called upon to make outstanding saves from Williams and Irwin in quick succession. Welton forced a little pressure onto the Wincanton backline but Lewis Russell went wide of the upright and another scuffed shot didn’t worry the net.

Ball was forced into his only save of the match on 63 minutes from Jake Slocombe who found some space to let fly and Ball pushed the powerful shot away to safety as Welton looked to find away back into the game.

An inspired substitution from manager Chris Wise killed the game as Cam Allen was brought on for the hard-working Thompson on 68 minutes and promptly scored the decisive third goal firing home after a point-blank save. As the game petered out, Matt Curnock let fly with a freekick from 30 yards which just went over the bar on 89 minutes which would have capped a fine 3-0 victory which moves Wincanton up to fourth in the league and now look forward to the festive fixtures starting with the Boxing Day trip to Wells City.

The next home game is now Saturday, January 8 at 3pm v Hengrove.