Wellington AFC

Wellington Reserves could not make it three wins in a row when they found Devon and Exeter Premier Division leaders Seaton Town in formidable second half mood when they visited the Devon coast last weekend.

After a very solid and robust first half when the Wellington back line of James Garrad, Mitch Woodgate, Tom Phillips and Darren Mace let nothing get through so as to get to half time at 0-0 all that hard work was undone by three goals in six crazy second half minutes as Seaton secured the points with an element of aid from the Tangerines second string.

All three subs were tried, but to no avail.

There is no game next Saturday due to a home game being displaced by a rearranged first team match, but the game in question – Clyst Valley – is up four days later under lights on Wednesday 16th February from 7.30pm

The backlog of home games that the Reserves have is going to ease now that the Devon and Exeter League has issued a set of dates that brings forward a number of such matches.

The backlog will start to ease with the visit of Clyst Valley on Wednesday 16th February for a 7.30pm KO.

A frozen pitch scuppered Wellington Reserves in their attempt to go for a third Devon and Exeter League Premier Division win in a row – at home to bottom side Exmouth Amateurs last weekend; a frosted pitch with a mottled appearance was never going to thaw in time for the match to start on time and sadly the decision had to be taken to postpone.

Wellington Reserves are now really battling against time to get a dozen home games in between now and and the Easter weekend which is the cut off point before the cricket season starts.

The weather saw to it that by the time Wellington Reserves play again it will be the New Year and the best part of two months will have passed since the squad last tasted match action.

With the snow having fallen in large quantities and the roads blocked as much as the Exmouth pitch being unplayable the game was called off on Saturday morning and makes for a four match backlog for the team managed by Dave Thomas.

The team are next set for a game at Alphington on the New Year Bank Holiday Monday – 3rd January from 2.15pm, but this season is going the same way as 2009-2010 did with games falling victim to any number of reasons and making for such a backlog that it may become hard, nigh on impossible, to manage adequately.

Toolstation League premier division: Devizes Town 0, Wellington 5.

WELLINGTON romped to an easy win away to bottom club Devizes in Wiltshire on Saturday.

They took an early lead when Andy Butler bundled the ball over the line from close range and went further ahead through a spectacular own goal.

Shane Kingston scored the third before Luke Desave struck the best goal of the goal with a fierce low drive to make the half-time score 4-0.

Wellington increased their lead early in the second half, Simon Ingram scoring from the penalty spot after a foul on Desave.

And Devizes saw their day go from bad to worse when they had a player sent off for a bad tackle on Craig Herrod.

Toolstation League premier division: Wellington 4, Chard Town 1.

WELLINGTON notched up their second four-goal haul in successive games as they swept aside neighbours Chard Town at the Playing Field last night.

Chard are fighting relegation and had won their previous two matches but they never recovered from conceding an early goal and the game was virtually over by half-time with Wellington leading 3-0.

The home side went ahead after only three minutes as Simon Ingram’s free-kick was flicked on by Shane Kingston for striker partner Matt Francis to fire the ball into the roof of the net.

The first half was keenly contested and took a controversial twist in the 28^th minute as Wellington were awarded a free-kick for handball.

Ingram lifted the ball into the box where Scott Holland ran in unchallenged to head home but Chard’s manager Ian Burns was incensed by the incident and his protests led to him being ordered from the dugout by referee Adam Nunn.

Five minutes later, Wellington increased their lead after another Ingram free-kick came back off the post.

Craig Herrod picked up the rebound on the left, chipped the ball over and Francis rose to head home his fifth goal in two games.

That strike took the sting out of the game and the second half was a tame affair.

But Wellington made it 4-0 in the final minute as Ingram sent Kingston racing clear to produce a cool finish.

Chard had the final say shortly afterwards with a consolation goal as sub Matt Cahill cut inside to score with a fierce shot across keeper Ryan Lewis.

Wellington: Ryan Lewis, Jon Crowford, Scott Holland, Ricky Davey, Jack Adams, Darren Stone, Simon Ingram, Andy Butler, Craig Herrod, Shane Kingston, Matt Francis. Substitutes, Alex Pounde, Mark Thompson and Luke Desave (all used).

On Saturday, Wellington are home to league leaders Bitton at the Playing Field (3pm).

Toolstation League premier division: Wellington 4, Radstock Town 0

WELLINGTON bounced back from three successive defeats with a comfortable victory over Radstock at the Playing Field yesterday.

They went into the game on the back of their worst run since Leigh Robinson became manager at the start of last season but ended it without ever needing to slip into top gear.

Wellington went ahead after 18 minutes when the ball broke to Craig Herrod in the box and the winger skipped around keeper Gary Stevens before slotting home.

And they went further ahead nine minutes later when striker Matt Francis rose to head home a trademark free-kick from skipper Simon Ingram.

Radstock only threatened twice on the break but, each time, keeper Ryan Lewis did well to thwart Matt Crouch.

Wellington increased their lead to virtually kill off the contest early in the second half. 

Another Ingram free-kick saw defender Scott Holland produce a back-header, which hit the post before Francis knocked home the rebound.

Wellington had thrown away a two-goal lead as they drew 4-4 at Radstock earlier in the season but they never looked in danger of doing anything other than extend their lead.

And the fourth goal duly arrived seven minutes from time when an Ingram cross was headed down by Jack Adams for Francis to volley home from just outside the area to complete his first hat-trick for the club.

Wellington: Ryan Lewis, Craig Mawford, Scott Holland, Andy Robertson, Jack Adams, Mark Thompson, Simon Ingram, Andy Butler, Craig Herrod, Darren Stone, Matt Francis. Substitutes, Graham Burne and Luke Desave (used), Daniel Short (not used).

On Wednesday, Wellington are home to Chard Town in a league game, kick-off 7.45pm.

Toolstation League premier division: Wellington 2, Bideford 5.

WELLINGTON suffered their third successive premier division defeat as they crashed at home to FA Vase quarter-finalists Bideford at the Playing Field last night.

Leigh Robinson’s side gave a stop-start performance and could not complain about the result although the scoreline flattered Bideford, who struck twice in the last five minutes.

Wellington, who had looked so secure in their previous game away to leaders Bitton, were all over the place in the opening minutes and Bideford could have scored more than the one goal they managed through Shane Tolley.

But the home side broke out to equalise after eight minutes as skipper Simon Ingram played the ball forward to Darren Stone and the Aussie striker used his pace to race clear and net.

That signalled Wellington’s best spell of the game and keeper Ryan Draper pulled off good saves to deny Stone and Jack Adams while Craig Mawford saw a corner come back off the bar.

At the other end, Andy Robertson headed off the line to deny Jamie Densham but Wellington should have gone in ahead at the break as Matt Francis was guilty of missing two gilt-edged chances.

Bideford regained their lead five minutes into the second half when a fine run down the right by Shane Lewis saw his low cross turned home by strike partner Densham.

But Wellington levelled again five minutes later as an Ingram corner reached Scott Holland at the far post and he coolly slotted the ball home.

It was another corner which gave Bideford their vital third goal after 58 minutes – but Wellington will not be happy that Nick Barker’s kick seemed to evade everyone before somehow creeping in at the far post.

Wellington pressed in search of a third equaliser but appeared to run out of ideas as the game wore on.

And they were punished in the dying minutes as the visitors opened up the home defence to run in two well-worked goals scored by Ben Wood and Densham.

Wellington: Ryan Lewis, Craig Mawford, Scott Holland, Andy Robertson, Jack Adams, Darren Stone, Simon Ingram, Andy Butler, Ricky Davey, Craig Herrod, Matt Francis. Substitutes, Mark Thompson, Luke Desave and Martin White (not used).

Toolstation League premier division: Bitton 1, Wellington 0.

WELLINGTON suffered their first premier division away defeat since way back on August 30 as they were edged out by title favourites Bitton on Saturday.

But Leigh Robinson’s side could hold their heads high after giving the league leaders a run for their money, only being thwarted by a disputed goal 15 minutes from time.

Despite missing both leading scorer Shane Kingston (unavailable) and defender Dan Short (shoulder injury), Wellington again proved how far they have come under Robinson in their first season back in the top flight.

Bitton are clear leaders and have games in hand on all their rivals yet it was Wellington who carved out the early openings.

Aussie Darren Stone saw a shot turned round the post in the first minute while a far post header from Matt Francis smacked against the upright.

Bitton took the game to Wellington as the half wore on but Rob Scott headed their best chance wide on the half-hour and they also had loud appeals for a penalty turned down shortly afterwards.

Chances were few and far between in a tense game with neither goalkeeper seriously tested and the Wellington defence holding firm with Scott Holland and Andy Robertson outstanding.

But it was finally breached in the 75th minute when a speculative shot by substitute Jake Hallet was turned into the net by striker Mark Reynolds with Wellington appeal vehemently – but in vain – that he was offside.

The visitors threw men forward in search of the equaliser their efforts deserved but the closest they came was a low drive by skipper Simon Ingram, which fizzed just wide.

Wellington: Ryan Lewis, Craig Mawford, Scott Holland, Andy Robertson, Jack Adams, Darren Stone, Simon Ingram, Andy Butler, Ricky Davey, Craig Herrod, Matt Francis. Substitutes, Mark Thompson and Luke Desave (used), Jon Crowford (not used).