Wellow earn their place at top of table.

Wellow 3, Whitchurch 0.

Wellow went to the top of the Sydenhams Wessex League Division 2 table leading into the festive period and kept their unbeaten home run intact following this hard fought victory at Hatches Farm.

The visitors should have taken the lead on five minutes when a deep cross caught the Wellow defence napping and the ball was struck just wide. Luke Askham was proving to be a handful to the Whitchurch defence with his surging right-wing runs.

A neat Betteridge - Traies move through the midfield gave Askham a half-chance which was squandered. Midway through the first half, with Chris Roseby and Rob Males pushing on down the flanks, Nick Cooper put Wellow in front with a well-deserved poacher's goal, following a goalmouth scramble.

The visitors were having their share of possession, but the reliable Burge and man of the match Stu Simpson coped well in the heart of the Wellow defence.

Alex Purkiss came on for Mike Long at half-time and injected extra pace into the Wellow midfield. Wellow manager, Lockey, changed the formation, taking off front-man Cooper and bringing on Wellow hard man Joe Jacobs. With this added bite in midfield, Wilkinson and Betteridge were able to create more chances.

Paulo Traies fed Askham on the edge of the box, who clinincally finished to make it 2-0.

Traies was provider once more as he set up Jacobs to make it 3-0 for the hosts. Wellow favourite Andy Gradidge came on as replacement for a tired Askham to inject pace on the right flank.

After the match Wellow manager Lockey said: "Going top of the table is testament to the lads' hard work in training."