Welton 3 – 1 Alford Town
The Under 13s recorded successive victories for the first time this season, as they secured a hard-earned and well-deserved 3-1 win at home to Alford Town.
With Will Frecklington and Cameron Wylde both absent there were positional changes for Welton, as Sam Baxter deputised in goal, Owen Parry slotted in at left-back, and Tom Caunt moved into central defence. Welton kicked off and immediately settled into a neat passing game, getting reward in the eighth minute when the ball broke to Sam Cooke on the edge of the box, from where he curled a left-foot shot past the keeper to record his tenth goal of the season. A brilliant block by Owen Parry prevented Alford getting a quick reply, but midway through the half they did find an equaliser. The visitors then had the better of the remainder of the half, but a good piece of defending by Jack Ashall, and three saves by Sam Baxter ensured the break was taken with the scores level.
Alford began the second half strongly and were thwarted on separate occasions by Paddy Smith, Sam Champion and Owen Parry, but Sam Baxter wasn’t really being troubled between the posts. With twenty minutes of the half played Callum Gray was felled in the box, and for the second match in succession Sam Cooke slammed the ball home from the spot. Seven minutes later Welton gave themselves a two goal cushion when James Lowry was quickest to an Alford goal-kick, before bursting into the area and slotting the ball home. The visitors tried desperately to get back in the game, but two outstanding pieces of defending by Tom Caunt and Owen Parry brought their best attacks to an end, and the hosts were comfortably able to hang onto their lead.
This was an entertaining game of football with both teams playing some neat football, but it was Welton who were able to win the vital battles to deservedly secure the points.
TEAM: BAXTER, YARNELL, CHAMPION, CAUNT, PARRY, BULLIVANT, ASHALL, WRIGHT, LOWRY, COOKE, GRAY, SCHIAFFONATI, SMITH
GOALSCORERS: COOKE (2 (1 pen)), LOWRY
