Pipped in North Devon
Toolstation League premier division: Barnstaple Town 3, Wellington 2.
WELLINGTON are still looking for their first premier division point of the season after a narrow defeat in North Devon yesterday.
Wellington were gifted the best possible start as they went ahead within the first minute.
Recalled Luke Desave charged down a clearance and his low cross was turned in the net by Barnstaple skipper Kevin Darch.
If that was bad luck on the home side, fortune turned their way as they equalised in the 16th minute. A mis-hit long-range shot fell conveniently to Ryan Turner in the box and he made no mistake.
Wellington got back in front on the half-hour as – remarkably – another Desave cross was turned into his own net by Darch.
But Barnstaple drew level thanks to some woeful defending five minutes before the break. Billy Hopcroft was given far too much room to turn and poke the ball past keeper Ryan Lewis.
Wellington took the game to Barnstaple in the second half but, as they threw men forward, they were caught on the break with 15 minutes remaining for what proved to be the decisive goal.
George Swain was brought down by defender Mark Armstrong and Ricky Marinaro dispatched the resulting penalty past Lewis.
