Wellington AFC

WITHOUT a match for the past two Saturdays, Wellington returned to action with a friendly against Peninsular League side Ottery St Mary at the Playing Field last night (Wednesday).

And Leigh Robinson’s side ran out 3-0 winners of a keenly-fought match.

Central defender Scott Holland put them ahead in the first half with a thumping header.

And they sealed victory with two goals after the break from skipper Simon Ingram, the first a tap-in and the second a superbly-executed free kick.

Unfortunately, Ingram is suspended for Saturday’s trip to Wiltshire to play Westbury United.

But on a brighter note, the Wellington line-up against Ottery included Jon Crowford, who is rejoining the club.

AFTER nearly three weeks without a game, Wellington manager Leigh Robinson has arranged to play a friendly tonight (Wednesday).

The match will be against Peninsular League side Ottery St Mary at the Playing Field, kicking off at 7.45.

Ironically, Robinson was appointed manager of Ottery at the end of the last season but almost immediately quit to rejoin Wellington as boss.

Wellington’s enforced run without a game has seen Sherborne Town take over at the top of the table.

On Saturday, Wellington will be hoping to return to league action when they travel to Wiltshire to take on Westbury United.

Toolstation League division one: Portishead 3, Wellington 1

AFTER nine successive wins, the Wellington bubble finally burst as they suffered defeat in the Portishead mud yesterday (Saturday).

Wellington went ahead after 18 minutes as Craig Herrod skipped past a defender and sent over a cross for Nick Woon to head home.

Portishead should have got back on terms shortly afterwards when they were awarded a penalty for Scott Holland’s tackle on Russell Gregory.

The striker picked himself up to see his spot-kick well saved by Scott Wells-Burr only for the referee to order it to be re-taken as a Wellington play had encroached into the box. Gregory’s second effort was comfortably blocked by Wells-Burr.

Portishead equalised just before the break. Wells-Burr failed to gather a Steve Lafford shot and Gregory pounced to score.

The home side took the lead only four minutes into the second half as Wells-Burr saved a shot from Gregory but defender Jack Adams then sliced his clearance into his own net.

And Portishead made the game safe after 72 minutes when a low cross found Gregory, who made room for himself before shooting home.

Wellington: Scott Wells-Burr, Craig Mawford, Dan Short, Scott Holland, Jack Adams, Alex Pounde, Simon Ingram, Andy Butler, Craig Herrod, Dan Boere, Nick Woon. Subs: Shane Kingston, Dan Hollands, Tim Legg (all used).

IT’S a blank day for Wellington AFC with all three games for our senior sides called off because of waterlogged pitches.

The two in-form sides in the Toolstation division one had been due to meet at Larkhall but the Bath side’s pitch failed an 11.15 inspection.

And the Reserves’ game at home to Sidmouth was called off around the same time.

A hat-trick of postponements was completed with the third team game away to Civil Service also falling foul to the weather.

Anyone fancy a game of scrabble?

Toolstation League Division 1: Wellington 4, Longwell Green 1.

WELLINGTON are becoming the runaway leaders of the first division after yet another win at the wind-swept Playing Field last Saturday.

It was a ninth successive victory for Leigh Robinson’s team and meant they ended 2007 sitting nine points clear of their nearest rival at the top of the table having scored 19 goals in their four games in December.

They took control during the first half against Longwell Green and were 3-0 up at the break with the points virtually in the bag.Wellington went ahead after 29 minutes as a fierce drive by Dan Boere was parried by keeper Mark Britten for Shane Kingston to pounce on the rebound.

The visitors suffered a blow shortly afterwards when Britten was forced out of the action with a hand injury and had to be replaced in goal by defender Ryan Gardner. The stand-in keeper was powerless to stop Wellington scoring twice more before the break as Nick Woon glanced home a shot by skipper Simon Ingram and then unselfishly set up Alex Pounde for the third.

Longwell Green refused to lie down and pulled a goal back five minutes into the second half when a shot by sub Mark Cooper came back off the bar for Dan Tanner to nod home. The biting gale took its toll as the game wore on but it was Wellington who restored their three-goal advantage after 67 minutes.

Pounde, who has been so impressive since his move from Taunton Blackbrook, turned inside a defender and sent in a low shot, which Gardner could not hold allowing Woon to score his second of the game.

Wellington: Scott Wells-Burr, Craig Mawford, Dan Short, Scott Holland, Nathaniel Short, Alex Pounde, Simon Ingram, Dan Boere, Craig Herrod, Shane Kingston, Nick Woon. Subs: Andy Butler, Tim Legg, Mark Thompson (all used).