City exit County Cup to Welton Rovers in penalty shoot-out

Welton Rovers took full advantage of their Somerset Premier Cup reprieve to beat City 5-4 on penalties at West Clewes this evening in the replayed 2nd Round match. City had won the original match 3-1 back in November but, after they were found guilty of fielding an ineligible player, the Somerset FA ordered that the tie was replayed. Despite fielding a stronger starting XI than in the first game City struggled to break down the uncompromising Western League outfit during a forgettable first half, although they looked to have won a penalty when Wayne Nderemani was tripped in the box on 35 minutes only for the referee to inexplicably award a free-kick a yard outside the area. The second period saw City begin to get on top though Harvey Wiles-Richards had to be alert to deny the hosts with a smart save just before the hour mark. A nasty foul by Welton’s Smith on Ross Stearn saw the City no.11 limp from the action on 67 minutes, which will be a concern with more important games ahead, but with nine minutes left Tom Smith looked to have won the tie for the Romans, netting from eight yards after keeper Drewitt pushed a Ryan Brunt into his path. However, in the final minute a goalmouth scramble saw Seviour stab home an equaliser and send the game to a penalty shoot-out. Smith, Frankie Artus, Jack Batten and Anthony Straker were all successful from the spot but Brunt fired his effort over the bar and with Welton confidently netting all five of their efforts past Wiles-Richards it was the home side who secured a quarter-final place against Taunton Town.