Cracking start
Toolstation League premier division: Welton Rovers 1, Wellington 3
WELLINGTON started life under new manager Warren Patmore with a cracking win away to Welton Rovers yesterday.
Already without unavailable captain Simon Ingram, Patmore was forced to re-shuffle his side when two players were delayed by a road accident.
And things went from bad to worse as they fell behind after only eight minutes with the ball being flicked over the top of the Wellington defence for Andrew Cotley to net.
A ding-dong start to the game saw both Shane Kingston and Darren Stone have close-range shots blocked for the visitors, James Billing of Welton have a “goal” disallowed for offside and then Wellington’s Jack Adams hit the post from a free kick.
But it was Wellington who scored a “route one” equaliser after 19 minutes as keeper Ryan Lewis’s clearance sent striker Shane Kingston racing away to cleverly clip the ball home.
Wellington looked more composed as the game wore on and they almost went ahead after 58 minutes when Kingston raced clear again but this time was denied by keeper Tristan Westlake.
Only two minutes later, the visitors took the lead as the ball was rolled to Adams – deputising for Ingram in midfield – and his blistering shot into the top corner left Westlake clutching at thin air.
Wellington substitute Mark Burgess almost put his side further ahead from a free-kick eight minutes from time before a dramatic climax to the match.
In the final minute of injury time, visiting keeper Ryan Lewis did just enough to take the sting out of a Chris Lewis shot with defender Craig Mawford clearing the ball off the line.
And, almost immediately, Wellington winger Craig Herrod pounced on some loose play, rounded a defender and scored with a low drive to seal the points.
Wellington: Ryan Lewis, Ashley Baker, Scott Holland, Martin White, Craig Mawford, Jon Crowford, Andy Butler, Jack Adams, Craig Herrod, Darren Stone, Shane Kingston. Substitutes, Mark Burgess, Luke Desave, Neil Vogwill (all used).
THE Wellington line-up included midfielder Andy Butler, who has decided to stay with the club instead of joining neighbours Taunton Town.
