Wellington AFC

A New Year brought about a morale boosting win for Wellington Reserves over one of their rivals in the battle to survive the drop from the Premier Division of the Devon and Exeter League.

Wellington had not played for the thickest part of two months through weather considerations and the festive period falling on a weekend too and they looked not at their sharpest early on as Alphington who started the game one place and one point better off than Dave Thomas’ side, but having played a game more worked some nice moves in the opening twenty minutes – indeed the home side had the ball in the back of the net twice with a push on Wellington keeper Chris Cherry and an off side flag cancelling out their efforts.

With Craig Aspin back in Wellington colours after his transfer from Willand Rovers was finalised in good time for this match and Ashley Gaines also making a return to Wellington ranks the Tangerines second string gained in confidence and quality and held Alphington at arms length for the rest of the game pretty much as the home side were restricted to pot shots from long distance as the Wellington back four of James Garrard, Tom Phillips, Darren Mace and Mitch Woodgate held firm and gave the midfield and the front two good service as the game wore on.

Craig Aspin scored a comeback goal as he finished from the angle and slotted home for 1-0 to Wellington; Joe Enticott doubled the advantage for the Tangerines and they went into half time much the happier of the two sides.

The second half saw Alphington come back into things more and they did hit the bar, but Wellington could have increased their lead too and in the end that the three points came back up the M5 was the right result.

Wellington go up one spot to 14th and although they still occupy a relegation spot mid table security is now visible with only four points now separating Wellington and seventh placed Beer Albion based on Wellington’s result only.

As the thaw has commenced it is hoped that we can get back to action after the long enforced break on Bank Holiday Monday.

The 1st XI host Sherborne at 1.00pm and the Reserves are away to Alphington Reserves at 2.15pm.

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.

Snow and ice cost Wellington Reserves a second match in a row in the Premier Division of the Devon and Exeter League when their home match with Beer Albion was called off on the morning of the game last weekend.

With the ground frozen solid in places there was no chance of playing and a second match of the season needs to be rearranged.

The team has no match next weekend and then host Sidmouth and travel to Exmouth Amateurs in the two weeks before Christmas.

The weather got its claws into Wellington’s Saturday schedule for the first time this season when the Reserves away match in the Premier Division of the Devon and Exeter League with Topsham Town was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch last weekend.

Wellington await a fresh date for this match and in the meantime will entertain Beer Albion at home this weekend from 2.15pm.