FA Cup knockout blow
FA Cup extra preliminary round: Wellington 1, Bideford 3.
WELLINGTON bowed out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle as they went down to Toolstation premier rivals Bideford on Saturday.
In a tie played at Elmore’s ground in Tiverton because Wellington Playing Field is still being used for cricket, Warren Patmore’s side could have few complaints about their first defeat under the new boss.
Although the first half was closely contested, it was Bideford – many people’s tip for the league championship this season – who created the best openings.
And striker Glen Johnson – their new signing from Calne Town – squandered the best of them as he shot wide of an open goal.
Wellington made them pay by taking the lead just before the break as Craig Herrod was tripped just inside the area and skipper Simon Ingram stepped up to coolly convert his second penalty in successive games.
Bideford got a roasting from their manager Sean Joyce at half-time and responded by equalising shortly after the break when poor defending allowed Matt Downing to poke home a lobbed cross.
By now, the visitors’ tails were up and they went ahead in controversial circumstances after 56 minutes when Herrod was harshly judged to have bundled over Clay Bond and Danny Harris scored from the penalty spot.
Patmore used all three subs and threw players forward in search of an equaliser to force a replay.
But Bideford always looked more dangerous going forward and they sealed the tie in the final minute when Kevin Squire’s knock-back was bundled home by Nick Barker.
Wellington: Ryan Lewis, Craig Mawford, Martin White, Scott Holland, Jack Adams, Jon Crowford, Simon Ingram, Andy Butler, Craig Herrod, Darren Stone, Shane Kingston. Substitutes, Daniel Short, Ashley Baker and Luke Desave (used), Neil Vogwill and Warren Patmore (not used).
Attendance: 188.
