Welton Rovers 2. Falmouth Town 8.

[The Town Man]

Welton Rovers 2.                           Falmouth Town 8.

 

Poffley 34’                                       Annear 5’

Oputeri 46’                                      Wilson 18’, 37

                                                            Massey 29’

                                                            Leivers 44’, 86’

                                                            Barner 73’

                                                            Hutchinson 76’

                                                           

 

Falmouth Town cruised to a comfortable victory against Welton Rovers with a dominant display which outlined the differing fortunes of the two sides; Welton Rovers struggling to retain their league status and Falmouth putting increasing pressure on league high-flyers Helston and Clevedon as they strive to ultimately take the league title or at least secure a place in the play-offs.

 

Andrew Westgarth’s side would have approached the game with some caution as Welton Rovers narrowly missed out on taking points from Helston Athletic in their last home game.  Falmouth were still able to name a strong squad even without Tom Fisher, Max Everard, Alex Wharton and Ollie Walker. Indeed, a bench of Luke Brabyn, Jacob Grange, Cam Hutchison and Kian Thomas is testament to the depth of talent in the squad and undoubtedly all will be needed in the congested run-in to the end of the season.

 

Falmouth started much the stronger side as they dominated the midfield areas with Jack Webber especially prominent.  Most of the good passing moves in the first half seemed to go through him as he constantly demanded the ball, laid it off and showed again for the return.

 

Falmouth didn’t have to wait long to get off the mark.  A free-kick just left of centre, about 30 yards out, was struck goalwards by Tom Annear and it took a heavy deflection to beat the unlucky Alfie Hamblin in the Welton goal.

 

It was 2-0 in the 18^th minute as a corner was conceded on the left. Oscar Massey took the kick with pace and Rubin Wilson met it strongly to head it past Hamblin to maintain his healthy goal-scoring record for Town.

 

Not to be outdone, prolific strike partner Oscar Massey was next on the score sheet with arguably the best goal of the game.  Receiving the ball down the right, he ran at the Welton defender and then unleashed a powerful right-foot strike which beat the keeper comfortably at his far post.

 

Despite the mounting score-line, Falmouth were not having it all their own way, with Welton No. 10 Marcel Lewis especially looking impressive when he had the chance to drive at the Falmouth defence. The young Welton side’s heads never went down, and they were rewarded with the next goal of the game on 34 minutes. A corner from the left found the head of Jack Poffley and he made no mistake as he powered the ball past Morgan Coxhead to make it 3-1 to Falmouth.

 

If there was ever any hope for a way back for Welton after their goal, it was extinguished on 38 minutes when Wilson grabbed his second. Jared Sims received the ball just inside the box and executed an exquisite flick into the path of Wilson who hit a low shot just inside of the far-post. 

 

 

Falmouth capped off a fine first-half with a fifth goal after 44 minutes. Welton conceded a needless free-kick almost on the touch-line on the right hand side. Another powerful delivery from Annear found Bradley Leivers’ head and it was 5-1 to Falmouth Town going into the break.

 

After such a dominating first-half, it was always going to be difficult for Falmouth to maintain their intensity and this proved to be the case as Welton got their second goal within one minute of the restart.  An attack down the right resulted in a cross into the box which was met by Brandon Oputeri, who had worked tirelessly all game, and he guided the ball past Coxhead to make it 5-2.

Welton then enjoyed their best period of the game, without really creating any more clear chances and it wasn’t until the 73^rd minute that Falmouth were able to add to their lead. Luke Barner droving at the Welton full-back down the right before curling a shot round the keeper.

 

Three minutes later and it was Cam Hutchinson who continued his impressive scoring record to make it 7-2 from a free-kick down the left. Although heading goalwards, another deflection from an outstretched Welton head was enough to beat Hamblin again.

 

The final goal of the game was from another Hutchinson free-kick from the left.  This time he found Leivers who effected another glancing header to make it 8-2 to the visitors.

 

Every game is a cup-final now for Falmouth as they continue to chase down leaders Helston and 2^nd placed Clevedon. Indeed it is the latter that Falmouth will entertain on Saturday at Bickland Park, hopefully in front of a healthy home crowd, as Town will need every advantage to ensure they do not slip up against their title-rivals.  A home win would place Falmouth above Clevedon and in 2^nd place with two games in hand.  Then follows an unforgiving schedule of games with the long visit to Wellington on the Tuesday night and another visit North the following Saturday as they take on Oldland Abbotonians.  Sandwiched between these games on the Thursday, Town travel to Helston Athletic for their much-awaited clash, which may go some way to deciding the destination of the Western League title this season.  A massive game and Falmouth will be hoping that large numbers will make the short trip to Kellaway Park to roar them to victory and keep their title dreams alive!

 

 

Welton Rovers: Alfie Hamblin, Ben Gundle, Caleb Summerfield, Joe Paradise, Jacob Shore, Jack Poffley, Miguel Alves, Charlie Saunders ©, Brandon Oputeri, Marcel Lewis, Joe Cattermole.  Subs: Lenny Gale, Lewis Ewins, Logan Cassidy, Kai Williamson, Max Dyer.

 

Falmouth Town: Morgan Coxhead, James Swan, James Ward, Tom Annear, Bradley Leivers, Jack Webber, Andreas Calleja-Stayne, Jared Sims, Luke Barner, Oscar Massey, Rubin Wilson.  Subs: Luke Brabyn, Jacob Grange, Cam Hutchison, Kian Thomas