Toolstation/Hellenic Boss Smith delighted Welton are in the mix for promotion
WELTON Rovers’ ambitious boss Tom Smith insists nothing has changed when it comes to his team’s stirring push for promotio to the Toolstation Premier Division.
First Division leaders for so much of the campaign, the West Clewes outfit approach an away encounter with Portishead Town gazing up from second spot now at a Sherborne Town team streaking ahead at the summit on the strength of 17 successive wins and a 21-match stretch without defeat.
Welton have hardly been hanging around, either. They visit Bristol Road tomorrow with eight victories from their last nine league games, with that one defeat coming on Tuesday night last week when Warminster Town, a force to be reckoned with in fourth spot, “stole” a 1-0 win at West Clewes.
“We felt luck wasn’t with us in that one,” said Smith. “I’ve seen a recording of the game and we had eight clear-cut opportunities and a decent half-chance.
“Warminster nicked it with a flicked header from a corner on 70 minutes, and by one of our former players too in Martin Johnson to cap it all!
“Then again, Hengrove could count themselves a little unfortunate on Saturday not to get anything from our away game with them, instead of losing 1-0 to a late Toby Cole goal. Not only that, but our 16-year-old ‘keeper Alfie Kelsey brilliantly saved a penalty two minutes from time to help us over the line.”
Welton are hopeful that, even if they’re not to peg back the ninepoint gap separating them from Sherborne, they’ll remain firmly in the hunt for top-flight status via the likely four-team play-offs, which they’re already guaranteed a place in should the league confirm they are to go ahead.
“It would be nice to know for certain that is what will happen, as it would be good to know for sure whether we throw everything into trying to catch Sherborne or rest a few players ahead of the play-offs if we feel it’s necessary,” said Smith.
“Still, we wanted to be very much in the mix for promotion at the start of the season and that is where we are. We’re maybe not performing as fluently as we’d like, but we are getting good results.
“We’ll keep putting pressure on Sherborne, who have had a fantastic season, as long as we can, knowing we have to go to them on Easter Monday.”
Welton have been dealt an injury setback, though. Smith explained: “Jake Slocombe, our top scorer with 18 goals, tore knee ligaments at Hengrove at the weekend and will miss the rest of the season.”
Tomorrow’s First Division programme throws up home games for Almondsbury (v Wells), Lebeq United (v Gillingham) and Longwell Green Sports (v Devizes).
Of those hitting the road, Hengrove Athletic are at Cheddar, where visiting manager Jamie Hillman wants to see evidence his team can perform again to the heights they hit in Saturday’s “luckless” 1-0 home defeat by Welton rather than repeat the “below-par” offering on show from his charges during the previous weekend’s 4-0 drubbing by Wincanton.
“We let ourselves down that day, even though a few of our lads were unavailable to play,” the Hengrove leader admitted.
“The boys were told in no uncertain terms they needed to give a better account of themselves against Welton. They did just that, playing really well against a team who had been top for a long time.”
Hillman is confident there’s little or no threat his team could yet be pulled into a relegation scrap, although that doesn’t mean to say he’s encouraging them to ease up over their last five fixtures.
“Yes, we’re looking safe; but we’re now urging our players to put themselves in the shop window for next season,” the Norton Lane boss stressed.
“We’re definitely looking to bring new players in over the summer. That’s a process which has already started. We also want to keep the bulk of what is a very promising young side, some of whom could be tempted by offers elsewhere if we’re not careful now they’ve got to grips with the shock of playing adult football for the first time.
“That would be a shame as we’ve worked hard to build back that old Hengrove spirit and mentality, which served us so well for so many years. We’re really looking to keep that building process going, with the addition of new reserve and under-18 (Floodlit League) teams next season.”
Striving to make home advantage count tomorrow in Toolstation Premier Division are Bitton, who
face yet another in a serious of tough tests when leaders Tavistock visit Midland Spinner Stadium, Cadbury Heath, who welcome stranded bottom team Bridport to Springfield, and Clevedon Town, who host Brislington.
Keynsham Town are without a match this weekend but are waiting to learn of a potential penalty imposed by the Toolstation League after the club announced they would be pulling their first team out of their Premier Division visit to Mousehole in Cornwall, which had been scheduled for Tuesday night this week.
Keynsham released a lengthy statement prior to the game stating their inability to raise a side for the game, and the cost to club and players of hiring a minibus for the 400-mile round trip and taking time off work. The Toolstation
League responded by stating: “Failing to fulfil a fixture, which technically has not happened yet, is a serious matter and will be subject to a disciplinary procedure. The League will be making further statements on this matter, at the appropriate time, pending the outcome of this disciplinary procedure.”
Bristol-based Hellenic Premier Division clubs find themselves embroiled in more cup competition tomorrow. Cribbs are at Malmesbury Victoria, 7-0 conquerors of Thornbury Town at the second round hurdle, for a Bluefin Challenge Cup quarter-final affair.
In the league’s secondary Supplementary Cup tournament, Chipping Sodbury host Shortwood United, and Thornbury Town are at home to Roman Glass
St George.