Wellington AFC

Toolstation League premier division: Dawlish Town 1, Wellington 4

NEWLY-PROMOTED Wellington caused the shock of the day in the Toolstation League’s Premier Division with a stunning victory away to leaders Dawlish Town on Saturday.

Boosted by their hard-earned midweek draw with Willand Rovers, Leigh Robinson’s side overwhelmed Dawlish in the first half to build up a 3-0 lead.

And although the home side launched wave after wave of attack after the break, Wellington still looked dangerous on the break and the margin of their victory could have been even greater.

Dawlish, whose line-up is sprinkled with ex-Taunton Town players, started like a side at the top of the table.

But Wellington some worked their way into the game and their illustrious opponents simply had no answer to their opponents’ pace and penetration going forward.

With skipper Simon Ingram still injured, Robinson brought Dan Boere in for his first appearance of the season and it proved an inspired selection.

Boere, playing just behind lone striker Darren Stone, set up the first goal and then scored the second himself.

Midway through the first half, he sent Stone racing forward to cut inside a defender and beat keeper Ryan Draper with a low shot for his second goal in successive games.

Shortly afterwards, Draper did well to palm a Craig Herrod shot on to the post but he was powerless to prevent Boere making it 2-0 as he headed a Herrod cross in off the underside of the bar.

Wellington completed a magnificent 45 minutes with another well-worked goal just before the break as a flowing move saw Herrod find Andy Robertson to stroke the ball home from the edge of the box.

Dawlish came out after the break looking like they meant business and pulled a goal back just before the hour when Anthony Lynch’s shot was cleared off the line by Dan Short but leading scorer Joe Bushin followed up to net.

Chances were plentiful at both ends but the pivotal moment was after 70 minutes as Wellington keeper Ryan Lewis did well to keep out a free kick and even better to block the follow-up by Derek Fields, who seemed certain to make it 3-2.

At the other end, Draper also produced a number of fine saves as Wellington caught Dawlish on the break repeatedly.

But, with five minutes remaining, more fine work by the tireless Stone saw his low cross turned in by sub Jack Adams to make the game safe.

Wellington: Ryan Lewis, Craig Mawford, Scott Holland, Marcus Vaughan, Daniel Short, Jon Crowford, Andy Robertson, Andy Butler, Craig Herrod, Dan Boere, Darren Stone, Subs: Aaron Deekes and Jack Adams (used), Steve Perkins (not used).

WELLINGTON bounced back from their FA Vase defeat at Tavistock with a 1-1 draw at home to local rivals Willand Rovers in the premier division of the Toolstation League last night (Wednesday).

It was a typical derby match, played at a high tempo throughout, and it was only fair that honours ended even at the final whistle.

Chances were few and far between with Willand taking the lead in controversial circumstances six minutes before half-time.

A long ball into the box bounced up and was judged to have hit a Wellington hand leaving referee Mark Oldaker pointing to the spot.

Wellington old boy Paul Pocock stepped up to take the penalty and although keeper Ryan Lewis dived the right way, the ball squeezed under his body and into the net.

Wellington replied only two minutes after half-time thanks to some fine wing play by Jon Crowford.

His tantilising run ended with a cross into the box which was headed home by Aussie striker Darren Stone.

Willand thought they had taken the lead shortly afterwards when David Steele clipped home a free kick.

But, as the visitors celebrated, the “goal was ruled out as Mr Oldaker said that the kick had been indirect.

Both sides launched attacks in search of the winner but, in the end, had to settle for a point apiece.

Wellington: Ryan Lewis, Craig Mawford, Scott Holland, Marcus Vaughan, Daniel Short, Jon Crowford, Andy Robertson, Andy Proctor, Andy Butler, Craig Herrod, Darren Stone. Substitutes, Jack Adams (used), Aaron Deeks and Matt Naylor (not used).

Attendance: 162.

FA Carlsberg Vase second qualifying round: Tavistock 2, Wellington 0

WELLINGTON crashed out of the FA Vase at the hands of South West Peninsular League side Tavistock in Devon yesterday (Saturday).

It was a really bad day at the office for Leigh Robinson’s side as they:

Saw their injury jinx strike again when skipper Simon Ingram suffered a recurrence of his pulled hamstring after only 20 minutes.

Had assistant player-manager sent off late in the game within a minute of coming on as a substitute.

And lost out on a £900 pay-day to follow the £800 they won for beating Ilfracombe in the first qualifying round.

Wellington, who have had a stop-start opening to the season began both halves of the tie brightly but never really fired on all cylinders in a disappointing performance.

Chances were few and far between in the first half with Wellington’s Craig Herrod shooting straight at home keeper Andy Meeds and Tavistock’s Ryan Honey blasting wide after pouncing on a defensive mistake.

Wellington looked like they meant business as the second half got under way yet it was Tavistock who took a 56th minute lead against the run of play.

Visiting defender Scott Holland appeared to be pushed as he leapt to head away a cross and could only direct the ball goalwards.

Keeper Ryan Lewis flung himself to left to produce a fine stop and prevent an own goal but the ball came out to Honey who joyfully dispatched it into the net.

Things turned from bad to worse six minutes later as Tavistock scored again to virtually seal the tie.

Good work on the right by James Steer saw him find Honey in space to stroke the ball low past Lewis from the edge of the box.

After that, Wellington’s heads went down and they never seriously looked like staging a fightback.

Robinson gambled on a double substitution as he sent on Matt Naylor and Perkins but it backfired dramatically as Perkins almost immediately caught an opponent late and was shown a red card amid some ugly scenes.

Wellington: Ryan Lewis, Craig Mawford, Scott Holland, Marcus Vaughan, Jack Adams, Jon Crowford, Simon Ingram, Andy Robertson, Andy Butler, Craig Herrod, Darren Stone, Substitutes, Aaron Deekes, Matt Naylor, Steve Perkins (all used).

Toolstation League Premier Division: Wellington 1, Hallen 2

A PENALTY in the dying minutes consigned Wellington to defeat in their first home game back in the Toolstation premier at the Playing Field last Saturday.

And that gave Hallen, now managed for a second time by former Taunton Town boss Gary Domone, revenge for the 3-1 reverse they suffered on their own ground last month.

There was never much to choose between the sides and the game was heading for a draw, which would have been a fair result.

But when the ball was played through to Hallen sub George Brimson, he raced in on goal only to be brought down by keeper Ryan Lewis.

Despite protests from the home side, the referee pointed to the penalty spot and Andy Cook converted the kick to send the visitors back up the M5 with three points.

The match was evenly-fought from the start with Hallen taking the lead on the half-hour as Rob Sivers was given too much time to bring the ball back on to his left foot and curl a low shot past Lewis.

Wellington replied five minutes later from a thunderbolt free-kick by Jack Adams. Hallen keeper Steve Scannell could only parry the shot and Aussie striker Darren Stone pounced to net.

Stone, who was always a handful up front, almost gave Wellington the lead before the break as another shot from close range came back off the post.

And, in the second half, it was Adams denied by the woodwork when another cracking free-pick was touched on to the post by Scannell.

At the other end, Hallen also hit the upright as home defender Daniel Short rose to cut out a cross and was a relieved man as his header rebounded back into play.

Both sides threw men forward in search of an equaliser and it was Hallen who snatched the late winner.

Wellington: Ryan Lewis, Craig Mawford, Scott Holland, Daniel Short, Jack Adams, Jon Crowford, Marcus Vaughan, Andy Butler, Craig Herrod, Darren Stone, Aaron Deeks. Substitutes, Simon Ingram (used) Matt Naylor and Steve Perkins (not used).

Officials from the Toolstation League attended the match to view ground improvements, which Wellington have had to make following their promotion from the first division.

The work, costing in the region of £100,000, has included provision of a 100-seater grandstand and a portable fence down the entire length of one side of the pitch.

“The league officials were delighted with everything we have done,” said chairman Ken Bird. “It was a landmark day for the club and such a shame the result didn’t cap it.”

EVERYTHING is set fair for Wellington’s first home game back in the Toolstation League’s premier division.

The club entertain Hallen tomorrow (Saturday) after a run of away games because the Playing Field is used for cricket until early September.

Wellington have faced a race against time since gaining promotion as division one champions and have only four months to carry out major ground improvements.

Work started with the laying of hard-standing at both ends of the pitch, then the base for the new 100-seater grandstand was laid followed by delivery of the stand itself.

Meanwhile, new dugouts capable of seating eight people have also been constructed.

Work is taking place today to erect the temporary screen which will run down the entire length of the cricket-square side of the pitch.

The screen needs to be put up and taken down for every game. It also means that spectators will no longer be allowed to stand in that area.

Finally, the four floodlights on the same side of the pitch are erected tomorrow morning.

“It has been a remarkable summer,” said chairman Ken Bird.

“We have had to carry out a programme of work, which would normally take years, in only a few months.

“I can’t thank everyone involved enough and will be delighted when we kick off our home premier division programme.”

WELLINGTON showed they will be no pushover in the premier division this season by winning an incident-packed game at Bideford 2-1 on Tuesday night.

After their 7-3 FA Vase thrashing of premier rivals Ilfracombe last Saturday, Leigh Robinson’s side again got off to a flying start against the former league champions.

They went ahead after only ten minutes as Craig Mawford crossed from the left and found striker Aaron Deeks unmarked in the box to coolly add to his Vase hat-trick.

That was the signal for Bideford to take the game to the visitors but a dramatic evening saw one of their four corner-sited floodlight pylons fail on the half-hour.

While play continued in reduced light, Wellington lost Deeks after a heavy challenge and he was replaced by fit-again aussie striker Darren Stone.

And it was Wellington who extended their lead on the stroke of half-time as former Taunton keeper Kenny Griffiths dropped a Jon Crowford free kick and Craig Herrod scored through a crowd of players.

Matters took a new twist at the interval when Bideford officials said they could not restore power to the failed pylon and referee Andy Rodda had a long meeting with his assistants before deciding the second half could start.

Bideford got the all-important early goal only three minutes into second half as they were awarded a free-kick just outside the box and Nick Barker curled the ball past keeper Ryan Lewis.

Although the pylon flickered back into life for a few minutes after the re-start, it then went out again but there was still plenty of good football from both sides to light up the pitch.

Craig Herrod saw a shot cleared off the line and then another blocked by Griffiths, while, at the other end, Bideford’s Anthony Mason rounded keeper Ryan Lewis only for defender Daniel Short to get back and clear his goalbound effort.

The game then took an ugly turn midway through the half as Wellington striker Shane Kingston, playing against his former club, caught another ex-Taunton player Darren Hawkings and the defender had to be stretchered off with ligament damage.

Kingston received a yellow card for his sins and, when play re-started, was subjected to some rough treatment from his marker, which went unseen by the officials.

The injury meant Mr Rodda played eight minutes of added time and Bideford threw men forward in search of an equaliser.

But Wellington defended like heroes and fully deserved their celebrations at the final whistle.

Wellington: Ryan Lewis, Craig Mawford, Scott Holland, Daniel Short, Jack Adams, Jon Crowford, Marcus Vaughan, Andy Butler, Craig Herrod, Shane Kingston, Aaron Deeks. Substitutes, Darren Stone and Matt Naylor (used), Simon Ingram (not used).

FA Carlsberg Vase Extra Preliminary Round: Ilfracombe 3, Wellington 7

WELLINGTON responded to manager Leigh Robinson’s call for more firepower with a seven-goal salvo in the FA Vase at Ilfracombe last Saturday.

Having failed to score in their previous two games, they thrashed their Toolstation premier rivals to earn £800 in prizemoney and an away tie at SW Peninsular League side Tavistock on September 20.

Despite missing three key players from their starting line-up – skipper Simon Ingram (hamstring), fellow midfielder Andy Robertson (unavailable) and striker Darren Stone (ankle), Wellington never looked back after a blistering start in a one-side contest.

They took the lead with what will surely be one of the quickest goals of the season, scored in only ten seconds as Craig Herrod pulled the ball back, Shane Kingston stepped over it and strike partner Aaron Deeks swept it home.

And things got even better after eight minutes when Deeks followed up his first goal for the club by making room for himself before curling a delightful shot over keeper Steve Oliver.

Ilfracombe, coached by former Wellington boss Dave Sheehan and with prolific striker Leon Taswell playing against his former club, pulled a goal back midway through the half when Ricky Marinario drilled home a free kick from the edge of the area.

But the visitors’ response was immediate as they scored three more times before the interval to virtually kill off the tie,

25 minutes – Defender Jack Adams produced an equally stunning free kick from more than 25 yards out.

42 minutes – The lively Kingston robbed a defender wide out and burst forward before sending over a cross, which was knocked home by Deeks to complete his hat-trick.

43 minutes – Jon Crowford was sent racing clear and his shot was thundered in off the underside of the bar by unfortunate Ilfracombe defender James Mayne.

There was still time for the home side to complete a remarkable half by making it 5-2 through Aiden Harper-Penman’s powerful drive and, even in stoppage time, Taswell lifted his only chance of the game over the bar.

It was hardly surprising that the second half was a more tame affair with Wellington increasing their lead as Marcus Vaughan, pushed up to deputise for Ingram in central midfield, scored from another Herrod pullback after 69 minutes.

To their credit, Ilfracombe refused to lie down and pulled another goal back in the 78th minute as keeper Ryan Lewis failed to deal with a through ball and let in Mark Clunie to net.

But Wellington had the final say in the last minute, Kingston capping his best display on the season with a lightning turn and finish past Oliver.

Wellington: Ryan Lewis, Craig Mawford, Scott Holland, Daniel Short, Jack Adams, Jon Crowford, Marcus Vaughan, Andy Butler, Craig Herrod, Shane Kingston, Aaron Deeks. Substitutes, Simon Ingram, Matt Naylor, Steve Perkins (all used).

Toolstation League premier division: Sherborne Town 1, Wellington 0.

WELLINGTON suffered another frustrating day as they went down to an odd-goal defeat last Saturday.

As in their previous match at Bristol Manor Farm, Leigh Robinson’s side did not deserve to come away empty handed and yet seem to have lost that killer touch in front of goal.

There was never much to choose between Wellington and Sherborne – similar to last season when both matches between the sides ended in draws.

Sherborne almost went ahead after 17 minutes when a header from Sam Jarman came back off the bar with keeper Ryan Lewis well beaten.

And they did take the lead of the stroke of half time as Wellington failed to clear their lines and, when the ball was played back in from the right, skipper Marc Caines rose to head past Lewis.

Wellington thought they had equalised seven minutes into the second half as a frantic scramble in the Sherborne area ended with the ball being knocked home from close range by another Aussie striker Matt Naylor on his debut.

But as the visitors started their celebrations, they were cut short because the referee’s assistant had his flag raised for offside.

Wellington were getting more into their stride and started to produce the football which has given them such an encouraging start to life in the premier division.

And it was a trademark flowing move which produced their best chance as substitute Aaron Deeks played skipper Simon Ingram into space in the box but he went for placement rather than power and keeper James Smith got down to save.

That resulted in a barrage attacks as Wellington took the game to Sherborne, although they also looked more vulnerable on the break and Lewis had to produce a couple of smart saves to keep his side in the game.

Wellington’s Jon Crowford volleyed over from six yards out in the dying minutes but they could not get the vital breakthrough their efforts deserved.

Wellington: Ryan Lewis, Craig Mawford, Marcus Vaughan, Scott Holland, Daniel Short, Jon Crowford, Simon Ingram, Andy Robertson, Craig Herrod, Shane Kingston, Matt Naylor. Substitutes, Andy Butler, Aaron Deekes and Jack Adams (all used).