LES PHILLIPS CUP: IT was hard to tell which team was in the Screwfix Premier Division and which was in Division One as Corsham caused a cup upset on Tuesday night.
Nobby Bush's side scored early in the first half and then made the game safe soon after half-time to triumph in this Les Phillips Cup second round showdown.
Alan Griffin was clinical in front of goal as he notched a hat-trick to add to Dave Kilmurray's opener.
Bush said: "We had Welton watched on Saturday and knew exactly what to expect from them.
"They played a 3-5-2 formation and we were just too strong for them and should have had the game wrapped up at half-time.''
He said there were some negatives. "I was a little disappointed that we were wasteful of our chances in the first half but I geed them up at half-time and I was pleased we didn't rest on 2-0,'' he said.
"Once we got the all important third goal I then took the chance to bring on some of our youngsters."
Corsham were quickly out of the blocks and Kilmurray hit the crossbar before Gareth Davies had a header saved and Jack Cullis put an effort wide.
The opening goal arrived on ten minutes when Frankie Coleman charged down two balls on the right and crossed for Kilmurray to apply the finish.
It looked like there would be no addition to the score before half-time but in the 45th minute Corsham struck again.
Bush's side made their dominance in the air count and from a corner the ball fell to Griffin in the area and he made no mistake.
The third goal was always likely to prove vital and when Corsham got it 20 minutes into the second half the match was over.
Kilmurray made ground on the flank and put the ball across for Griffin to notch his second of the night.
Bush then took the opportunity to throw on youngsters Scott Lye, Ryan Bush and Jack Heard into the fray.
Welton pulled one goal back when they neatly switched the ball from left to right.
But Corsham had the last word when substitute Bush knocked a free-kick across the face of goal and Lye flicked it back for Griffin to bury his third.
Bush added: "Somebody said at the start January that it would be a tough month but it has been okay so far.
"If we apply ourselves properly we can do well and have a really nice run. We can only let ourselves down but we have only lost one game in God knows how many.
"My only disappointment is that we didn't start the season a little bit better because we would be right at the top. But to be fair we were in a transitional period."
Meanwhile, the manager said he was pleased with the contribution being made by former Chippenham Town defender Gareth Davies.
"I spoke to Gareth after the game and he's delighted with how it's going," continued Bush.
"He's had a few approaches from other teams but he is extremely happy with how things are going and he is looking forward to his next couple of weeks with us.
"I'm happy with his progress and he is constantly talking to the youngsters on the pitch and we are winning games.
"But Gareth is only one part of the team and our youngsters are starting to get a chance to play now as well."
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