WELLAND capped off another successful season with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity by playing at Villa Park.

Manager Dave Oakley put Welland's name forward to Barclays for their Thank You Day, which enabled clubs to taste the Premiership match-day feeling at Aston Villa's home.

Grassroots football was disrupted in the winter with many sides having endless matches cancelled or finding 3G facilities to play games.

Welland’s Spitalfield home was out of action for five months due to the wet weather, costing the club hundreds of pounds to rent Dyson Perrins Academy's 3G surface.

More costs are yet to be counted for pitch maintenance and drainage work.

Welland, who finished third in Cheltenham Association League Division Three and runners-up in the Junior Charity Cup, won their big match 4-1 against Premier Utd from Birmingham. They went ahead on 20 minutes when man-of-the-match Ben Pearson crossed for 34-goal Omar Elmougy to head home.

Premier had few chances, while Mark Taylor had a shot well saved at the other end and Stuart Wilkes headed against the bar.

With Welland failing to put their opportunities away, Premier capitalised on sloppy defending to level just before half-time.

But Welland continued to dominate after the interval and James Lush drove home to put them back ahead.

Bryan Craven, Paul Edwards and Craig Tommey went close before Mark Holbrow headed in following Lee Manion’s knock-down.

Welland defended well and capped a superb display with 10 minutes left when Lush rounded the keeper and rolled the ball into the net.