MATCH REPORT BY KEV O'B

who put up stiff resistance before the home side ultimately deserved to prevail, after a game in front of Shepton's highest gate this season with over 150 present, including a healthy contingent from Welton.
In the first quarter of the game, Shepton's best work was done in defence as it was Welton who made the more confident start, whilst Shepton seemed a bit on edge early on and misplaced more passes than usual. Welton's Dan Cottle hit the first shot on target from distance after 5 minutes, but Shepton keeper Steve Phillips made a confident save. The next effort also came from Welton from a Steve Bridges shot after 20 minutes that went too high, but then a long run from out of defence by Harry Paice signalled a collective uplift in the home side's all round play. Paice played Ash Willmott in, and although Willmott's whipped cross into the middle was hooked clear as Shepton's strike pair of Kailin Gould and Jordan Townsley came rushing in, Shepton were now building more momentum in the final third with Ben Cleverley and Joe Burnell getting onto the ball higher up the pitch, having had to drop deeper to supplement their back four earlier on. Willmott had a couple of shots blocked, and although Welton's Ryan Allen hit a strike from distance well wide 10 minutes before the interval, Shepton were now getting on top and Gould set up Townsley for a shot on the turn that went a couple of yards wide, before a breakthrough goal came three minutes before the break. Cleverley took a quick short corner, playing the ball to Dave Thorne who hit a cross into the middle, and Craig Loxton's touch diverted the ball to Townsley who headed in.
Five minutes after the restart Phillips saved well from a low cross from Welton's Luke Palmer, before Willmott forced a corner at the other end after his goalbound shot was blocked. Just after the one hour mark, Gould brought the first meaningful save from Welton keeper Scott Armstrong, who lived up to his name after he palmed away Gould's well struck shot, and then dived onto the ball to smother Gould's follow up attempt. Shepton were seeing a lot of the ball down their right flank with Thorne setting up runs for Willmott, whose crosses were becoming an increasing threat to the visitors. Townsley shot over from one Willmott cross in the 65th minute, with Welton's attacks now rarer but still having to be dealt with given the narrow home side's lead. Palmer hit a free kick from distance too high with 20 minutes to go, and Thorne did well to cushion a header back to Phillips a minute later as Welton threatened again, before Armstrong saved his side from going further behind a minute later when he clawed away an inswinging Cleverly corner kick from under his crossbar. Inbetween two good defensive clearances from Shepton's Liam Watson, Shepton substitute Tyson Pollard clipped a post with a shot but was then given just offside, before Pollard then just missed another half chance after a good interchange with Gould. Late on, yet another cross from Willmott went to waste as no-one could quite get a decisive touch, and in stoppage time Shepton's other substitute James Billing also shot against a post, before Gould put the rebound into the net only to be flagged offside. Although Ricky Scott had a chance to take the tie into extra time with almost the last kick of the game, his tame shot was easily saved by Phillips for Shepton to deservedly progress to the next round, but credit to Welton who gave the home side a good test, especially in the first half.
Dave Thorne edged out Clevs and Ash for MoM, but again this needed an all round team effort to see off dogged opposition, and Joner will be especially pleased with the first clean sheet since the Melksham game in mid September, as we look forward to the draw on 24.11.14.

Team
1. S.Phillips
2.D.Thorne
3.R.Mitchell
4. H.Paice
5.LWatson
6. J.Burnell
7.B.Cleverley
8. C.Loxton
9.J.Townsley....scored one goal
10.K.Gould
11.A.Willmott

subs used
J.Billing and T.Pollard

attendance 153