Welton Rovers 2 Melksham Town 0

Welton moved up to second with a comfortable victory over Melksham and could have scored many more, the woodwork saving the visitors on at least four occasions.

Rovers' pressure started right from the kick-off when a good move down the right saw Ashley Lewis find Danny Maye with a good pass and Maye's first-time effort crashed into the side-netting.

More good play from Welton saw Lee Bryant find Maye and his effort caused panic in the Melksham defence before eventually being cleared for a corner.

Welton were totally dominant and the visitors were seldom able to break out of their own half.

Dean Evans went close to breaking the deadlock when he met a cross from the left and headed over Melksham keeper Darren Chitty, only to see his effort strike the bar.

Maye was having a good game for Welton and another shot from him went inches wide of the target, before Chitty produced an outstanding save to push Maye's shot away.

Then Chris Lewis set up Bryant and his shot flew into the Melksham side-netting.

Welton finally got the goal their efforts deserved 10 minutes before the break.

Good play by Evans saw him find Chris Lewis in space and he curled his shot round Chitty and into the far corner of the net.

Welton did not let up and the Melksham defence was all over the place. Wayne Thorne headed back to Chitty, who fumbled the ball and was grateful to see the it strike the inside of the post and fall into his arms.

As half-time approached, a rasping shot from 25 yards from Craig Coles missed the target by a whisker.

Welton started the second half in the same attacking mood as the first and James Billing went close with two early efforts, and Chitty was on top form again to deny Evans as Welton pressed for a second.

A Maye free-kick found Ashley Lewis clear of his marker but the youngster's header went straight into the arms of Chitty.

In the 60th minute, Welton were awarded a penalty when Bryant was brought down in the area.

Up stepped Welton captain Evans, who fired low down to the right, but Chitty guessed right and pushed the ball away for a corner.

This woke the visitors up and a shot from Steve Hunt flew over the Welton bar.

The bar saved Melksham again when a cracking 25-yard shot from Evans rattled the woodwork and dropped to Billing, but he shot wide.

Welton got their second when an enormous kick from keeper Tristan Westlake was missed by the Melksham defence and the ball fell to Billing, who slotted the ball past the despairing Chitty.

With virtually the last kick of the game, the woodwork saved Melksham again when manager Mark Harrington, who had brought himself on a few minutes earlier, launched a shot from distance, only to see it rebound against the crossbar.

On Saturday, Welton entertain Shrewton Utd at West Clewes in the quarter-final of the Les Phillips Cup (3pm).