Shepton were second best early on in their bank holiday derby game against neighbours Welton Rovers. Home keeper Tom Easterbrook had to be alert in the 5th minute, as he cleared away a dangerous cross from Welton’s Ben Wych from under his crossbar. Soon after, another dangerous ball into the middle, this one from Jaiden Savery, almost crept in at Shepton’s unguarded far post. It took until the midpoint of the half for Shepton to mount a serious threat, when they then almost grabbed an unlikely lead from a well hit Fin Wilkinson kick that had Welton keeper Chris Blammon scrambling to tip over his crossbar. Shepton’s Danny Constable then went close, shooting just wide, but in the 27th minute the hosts fell behind after Welton’s Toby Cole breached their offside trap and raced clear before firing home past Easterbrook. Welton were good value for their lead up to this point, and although Constable almost restored parity from the restart with a shot that went just too high, Cole then nearly added his and his side’s second before his colleague Billy Manning shot weakly straight at Easterbrook who easily saved. Nathan Legge was unfortunate not to drag Shepton level with a 42nd minute strike from a Fin Haines pass that struck a Welton post, before a corner in first half stoppage time brought better fortune as Haines rose highest to head Callum Gould’s cross in at the far post, for a relieved home side to turn round level at the break.
Either side of the break Joel Sisson did some fine defending with solid challenges to break down Welton attacks, thus helping his side restrict the visitors to only one more decent chance up to the hour mark, this a Cole shot that flew wide. With centre backs Matt Wood and Harry Rutty also more settled, Shepton now started to have more of an attacking threat. After two shots in quick succession were blocked in the Welton box, the next home attack saw full back Wilkinson earn a 65th minute penalty after being clipped by Blammon as he tried to go round the Welton keeper. Jake Sloggett, just on as a substitute after a month out injured, stepped up and slammed the spot kick into the roof of the net to give his side the lead for the first time in the game. Shepton’s fortunes were further helped with 20 minutes left, when a robust challenge by Welton’s full back Savery led to a straight red, that might have only been a yellow on another day. From then on, apart from a Wych shot that Easterbrook comfortably saved, Shepton were largely in control, with Josh Jenkins in particular having a fine game, and who forced a good save from Blammon with 15 minutes to go.
Jenkins also went close with a late free kick, but his industry was finally rewarded in stoppage time at the end of the best move of the match, when Sloggett‘s fine pass set him up for a 12 yard shot that he hammered past Blammon.
Although far from their best on the day, Shepton eventually did enough to take all three points and maintain their 100% start for the new management team, with Jenkins edging out Haines and Sisson for sponsors Merv Colenutt and Keith Tooze MOM honours, and Sloggett proving influential in the last half hour on his return to the squad.
Team
1. T. Easterbrook
2.J.Sisson
3.F.Wilkinson
4.M.Wood
5.H.Rutty
6.B.Symes…cautioned
7.F.Haines….cautioned and scored one goal
8.C.Gould….cautioned
9.D.Constable
10.Jenkins….scored one goal
11.N.Legge
Subs used
J.Sloggett….scored one goal
C.Ball
A.Seviour
Josh Swarbrick
Attendance 326