Les Phillips Cup Preliminary Round Chard Town 2 Welton Rovers 1 (aet) A

DRAMATIC winner in the dying seconds of extra-time earned the Robins an interesting tie against Premier Division Buckland Athletic in the next round of the Les Phillips Cup, writes Rod Harrington.

Welton Rovers, who began their season in some disarray, have strengthened their side recently and proved very competitive opponents.

Chard powered forward from the start and Steve Friend was particularly unlucky after a nod-on from Scott Martin when he lashed his volley just wide.

Friend was in lively mode but the visitors began to achieve the majority of the possession for a time.

Their wide men were quick and dangerous and, for a time, the Chard defence was uncharacteristically jittery.

Six minutes before the break, however, the hosts grabbed the advantage.

A free-kick taken by Cian Cabell not far from the halfway line was glided into the net via the head of Friend for a well-taken goal.

The second period began with a thunderous shot saved by Chard’s Jon Hill, only for Kieran Bailey to come to the rescue with a timely header from the rebound to keep the ball out of the net.

After this scare, the Robins were easing their way on top with some excellent attacking play until Welton’s captain Chris Pile was brought down in the box on 56 minutes.

Malick Jemmeh hammered home the resulting spot-kick.

Attacking down the slope, the home side continued to assert themselves but Friend, Max West- lake and Taoufik Ben Salem were thwarted time and again by some outstanding goalkeeping from Welton’s Owen Knight.

In extra-time, Luke Jackson, returning from injury, was introduced at left-back with Cabell moving further upfield into his customary wide role.

Cabell brought off another su- perb save from Knight before netting with an assured strike in the final seconds after good work by James Boyland.

Team: Jon Hill, Pat Golden, Cian Cabell, Shaun Wells-Burr, Kieran Bailey, Jake Dicker, Max West- lake, Taoufik Ben Salem (Luke Jackson 91m), Scott Martin (Ryan McGuinn 76m), Steve Friend, James Boyland. Sub (not used) - Matt Howell