Wellington AFC

Toolstation League premier division: Wellington 1, Ilfracombe Town 2.

WELLINGTON gave one of their worst displays of the season in losing at home to struggling Ilfracombe yesterday.

A poor first half saw Ilfracombe take the lead five minutes before the break when a corner was headed against the bar and Leon Taswell was on hand to score from close range against his former club.

Wellington looked like they meant business after half-time and equalised within eight minutes of the restart.

Andy Robertson released Darren Stone down the left and the Aussie striker’s low cross was cleared only as far as skipper Simon Ingram, who joyfully lashed the ball home.

But Wellington’s delight was shortlived as Ilfracombe regained the lead only ten minutes later when the ball was slipped through to Steve Holland, who produced a neat finish past keeper Ryan Lewis.

Wellington finally got into their stride in the closing stages but found Lewis’s opposite number Steve Oliver in fine form.

He produced three quality stops while substitute Cameron Nott also failed to make the most of a chance in the dying minutes.

Wellington: Ryan Lewis, Mark Thompson, Daniel Short, Andy Robertson, Jack Adams, Craig Mawford, Simon Ingram, Ricky Davey, Craig Herrod, Matt Francis, Darren Stone. Substitutes, Andy Butler, Scott Holland and Cameron Nott (all used).

Toolstation League premier division: Street 0, Wellington 2

WELLINGTON leapfrogged over Street into fifth place in the premier division table with a hard-earned revenge victory yesterday.

Wellington went ahead after 19 minutes as Simon Ingram’s free-kick was headed against the bar by Dan Short but Matt Francis was on hand to nod home the rebound.

Street’s cause was not helped 12 minutes into the second half when their most dangerous player Kye Palmer was dismissed for needlessly hacking down Darren Stone.

And Wellington sealed an important win with eight minutes remaining as they enjoyed the sort of luck in front of goal which had deserted them in recent games.

This time, Ingram rolled a free-kick short to Craig Herrod and the winger’s low shot from just outside the box ended up in the net with the help of a wicked deflection.

Wellington: Ryan Lewis, Craig Mawford, Dan Short, Andy Robertson, Jack Adams, Darren Stone, Simon Ingram, Ricky Davey, Craig Herrod, Shane Kingston, Matt Francis. Substitutes, Mark Thompson (used) and Luke Desave (not used).

IT is going to be a blank Saturday for Wellington AFC tomorrow after all three matches involving our senior sides were called off.

The reserve team and third team games in the Devon and Exeter League were both postponed earlier today.

And now the first team’s Toolstation League premier division fixture at Devizes has also fallen victim to the heavy snow.

Wellington’s match at Melksham on Monday was also frozen off and so the side will now have to fit in both long trips to Wiltshire.

Ironically, Wellington would have been without several key players tomorrow because they have gone ski-ing … they could have stayed at home!

Les Phillips Cup: Wellington 4, Bradford Town 5 (after extra time)

WELLINGTON were knocked out of the cup by division one leaders Bradford Town in a nine-goal thriller at the Playing Field on Saturday.

The game exploded into life just after the half-hour with four goals in eight minutes.

Liam Milburn put Bradford ahead with a penalty after a foul by Wellington skipper Simon Ingram, who then scored from the spot himself after Shane Kingston had been brought down.

Matt Francis scrambled Wellington ahead after 38 minutes only for the visitors to equalise before the break through Steve Tweddle’s bullet header.

Wellington regained their lead 20 minutes into the second half, Ingram again scoring from the spot after Craig Herrod had been hauled down.

But, urged on by their vociferous supporters, Bradford came back yet again five minutes from time when home keeper Ryan Lewis could only push Tweddle’s shot out to Matt Minnis, who gleefully accepted the chance.

The visitors almost sealed the tie in normal tie as Lewis pulled off a brilliant save to keep out Jerad O’Pray’s overhead kick.

But the keeper turned from hero to villain three minutes into extra time with a sliced clearance which presented Minnis with the chance to make it 4-3.

Six minutes later it was all-square again as Ingram played Darren Stone into space and he scored the goal of the game with a blistering cross-shot.

But Bradford clinched victory in the 109th minute when more sloppy defensive play let in O’Pray to neatly clip the ball past Lewis.

Wellington threw men forward in a bid to take the game to penalties but Francis and sub Andy Butler were both denied by the crossbar.