Toolstation League: Longwell Green 1, Wellington 2
Wellington recorded a much-needed win away to newly-promoted Longwell Green in Bristol on Saturday.
The opening exchanges were pretty even with Wellington keeper Wayne Hitchcott pulling off a couple of smart saves while, at the other end, Piper twice shot just wide of the target and skipper Simon Ingram saw a shot on the turn saved by keeper David Leggett.
But the home side gradually tightened their grip on the game and should have taken the lead as Matt Gunstone, Dan Tanner, Chris Dauncey and Chris Alway all failed to capitalise on clearcut openings.
And they were made to pay for the misses in first-half injury time when Shane Gage played a lovely ball over the top of the home defence for Piper to run on and coolly flip the ball over the advancing Leggett.
That goal seemed to stir Wellington into action after the break and although Gunstone had a “goal” disallowed for offside, it was the visitors who looked the more dangerous.
And the lead was eventually doubled after 69 minutes as a corner came out to Gage on the left and, when he drilled the ball into the crowded area, Woon was on hand to turn it over the line from close range.
Longwell Green threw men forward to try and rescue the game but their luck was out again as a fierce volley by substitute Mark Shore smacked into Gage on the goalline. Woon also saw a header cleared off the line by a defender in the closing minutes before Shore did reduce the arrears with a sweet finish after Hitchcott had blocked a through ball.
Wellington: Hitchcott, Elsley, Hammond, Andrews, Bowrah, Norman, Reader, Ingram, Gage, Piper, Woon. Substitutes, Baker, Nicholls and Jackson (not used).
OTHER ACTION: Wellington Reserves lost 3-1 away to Axminster Town in the East Devon Cup while the third team went down 2-1 away to Middlezoy Rovers in the Taunton Saturday League’s second division.
