WELTON Rovers were involved in a thrilling 4-4 draw against Ilfracombe Town in their last home game of the season in the Premier Division of the Toolstation League.

Spectators were still arriving when the visitors took the lead after only 40 seconds; a fluent attacking move straight from the kick off from Ilfracombe saw the ball fall to Harry Stevens in the Welton area and his first time shot flew into the Welton net.

This early setback appeared to knock the stuffing out of Welton and they took a time to regroup. A stinging shot from Jack Magarotto looked goal bound till Welton sub Kai Williamson managed to divert the ball away with his head. In added time at the end of the half the visitors got a second when Magarotto found Dan Wilson unmarked and he drilled his shot straight into the Welton net to give Ilfracombe a comfortable half time lead. The second half was less than a minute old when Welton pulled a goal back. Good play from Max Dyer saw him thread the ball through to the lively Marcel Lewis and the youngster made no mistake as he poked the ball into the visitors net. Welton continued to press but midway through the half suffered another set back when Charlie Roach scored from close range.

However Welton’s heads didn’t drop and in the 70th minute a superb strike from 20 yards out from Dyer flew into the roof of the visitors net giving the keeper no chance.

However the two goal advantage was restored for the visitors not long after when Welton keeper Alfie Hamblin rushed out of goal and was adjudged to have brought down Magararotto in the box and Wilson made no mistake from the penalty spot to make it number four for the visitors.

However Welton didn’t give up they kept trying and attacking and were rewarded in the second minute of added time when a superb 25 yard free kick from Joe Cattermole flew straight into the Ilfracombe net.

Then in the ninth minute of added time they scored again. The ball fell to Jacob Shore just inside the visitors box and he volleyed home into the net to equalise for Welton and with that the referee blew the final whistle and Welton got the all important point that should secure their Premier league status for next season. What a finish. . . Bob Allard.