(Above) Paulton captain Ali Sen receives the Bert West Cup from Bert's daughter Thelma and great granddaughter Maisie with Paulton Rovers club president Les Rogers

What an advert for youth football in North East Somerset and a credit to both club's future prospects in an exciting local derby at Winterfield Road on Thursday night.

Although a Western Counties Floodlit Youth League game, the outcome decided the annual Bert West Cup currently held by Welton.

Paulton got off to a flying start in the 2nd minute as the ball was played out to captain Ali Sen wide on the left who sweetly chipped the on rushing visiting keeper Robson Cole to open the scoring.

Minutes later they nearly increased the lead as Jake Curtis outpaced the defence only for his shot to cannon off the cross bar. On 16 minutes it was 2-0 as Curtis shot was parried by Cole and Lucas Hawkins turned and drove the ball into the net.

Welton slowly got back in the game and reduced the deficit on 28 minutes, as striker Harvey Palmer weaved along the byline evading two tackles to slot past Paulton keeper Sean Salter.

Salter was alert to save with his foot as Palmer cracked a goal bound half volley. Welton equalised on 33 minutes as a defence splitting through ball from left back Zak Payne found Freddie Blacker to make no mistake.

Paulton’s response saw Cole save with his foot from Curtis, and as they laid siege to Welton's goal, a cross from Archie Blacker was headed home by Blaine Lawrence on 35 minutes.

The second half started cautiously until the hour mark as Freddie Blacker missed a golden chance to level shooting wide. Three minutes later Paulton scored a fourth as Curtis ran on to a pass from Sen to round Cole and tap into an empty net.

There was some stellar defending from Paulton centre back Harvey Lawrence as his team mates soaked up intense pressure.

Curtis though, twice had chances to increase the home side lead, both times outpacing the defence only to shoot into the side netting.

With six minutes left a nail biting conclusion was set up as a cross from Reece Barry was headed home by Jacob Peters.

With a healthy crowd baying for a draw and then to a penalty shoot out, to decide the Bert West Cup, it was Paulton that hung on for the league points and win the cup competition too.

(Bert West was a former player and committee member of PRFC who died 25 years ago and the Cup was presented in his memory by his widow Frances and the family to be played annually between the youth teams of Welton Rovers and Paulton Rovers)