WELLINGTON and Willand drew for the third time in a row in the Premier Division of the Devon and Exeter League when they fought out a goalless draw at North Street yesterday.
But this was a game that Wellington could and should have won as they created by far and away the best chances and moves of the game, but they should take heart from that and move into the next game with this same sort of confidence.
Wellington were into their stride early as this saw Ashley Gaines doing good work up the right wing and playing a good ball in for Nathan Thomas to hit one point blank at the keeper and he saved the strike somehow.
Wellington continued to press forward and hit the post twice before the break; Nathan Thomas was first to do so and the ball came back into play and had time to strike the hand of a Willand defender, Wellington’s appeals for a spot kick were denied. Craig Aspin nearly delivered the perfect counter attack as Wellington keeper Chris Cherry delivered a long ball that found Aspin perfectly and the tall winger rampaged forward and beat the keeper from a very narrow angle, but just not enough to tuck the ball inside the far post as it bounced agonisingly wide and to safety.
Wellington were the better side into the second half and had it not been for Paul Pocock in the Willand midfield they would have offered even less than they actually did.
Nigel Letten played a whole game despite picking up a second half injury, but he will be out for this evening’s game and Mitch Woodgate was a tower of strength at the back as he played a MoM performance.
Luke Perry and Oli Nott were both used as second half substitutes, but Wellington just could not find the killer touch to wrap up three points; although they stay fourteenth Wellington moved closer to the mid table pack.
Wellington entertain Budleigh Salterton Reserves on Wednesday (7.30pm) and need to take this level of performance in to a game against a side going for their third successive double over the Tangerines second string.