Wellington AFC

GARY Domone has tendered his resignation as manager of Wellington, currently bottom of the Toolstation League’s premier division.

The former Taunton Town boss joined the club from premier rivals Hallen earlier in the season but has been unable to turn around their fortunes and saw them lose 6-0 at home to Brislington on Saturday.

A statement issued by the club said: “We are shocked and disappointed by Gary’s decision to resign on Sunday.

“We had hoped that his might have been a long-term appointment for Wellington AFC but it was obviously not to be.

“Saturday’s heavy defeat – and circumstances surrounding it – proved to be the final straw and he does not feel able to carry on in the job.

“We would like to thank him for all his hard work during his short time in charge and wish him all the best for the future.”

Domone took the reins at Wellington on October 27 and has managed the side for just seven games in his two month spell.

Six of those matches resulted in defeat for the Tangerines while the solitary win was an emphatic 5-2 victory over Welton Rovers.

Wellington called an emergency management committee meeting to discuss the situation last night.

As a result, former Taunton Blackbrook manager Colin Merrick, who has been helping Domone run the side, has been asked to take charge for Wednesday’s home game against league leaders Bishop Sutton.

Toolstation League premier division: Wellington 0, Brislington 6

BOTTOM club Wellington saw their season plumb new depths as they were hit for six by Brislington in front of their own fans on Saturday..

The game was virtually over by half-time as Wellington conceded three goals to the visitors, themselves struggling in the bottom half of the table.

Danny Guibarra shot Brislington ahead after 12 minutes and dangerman Leroy Shaby raced away down the right to make it 2-0 20 minutes later.

The Wellington defence were left flat-footed as Mike Rimmer cleverly flicked home the third five minutes before the break.

It got worse for home side in the second half when Brislington skipper Jason Hughes scored from a towering header after 52 minutes and then Rimmer produced the goal of the game 11 minutes later.

Substitute Ben Harris completed Wellington’s misery by scoring the sixth with four minutes remaining.

Wellington now face the daunting prospect of home games against the league’s top two – leaders Bishop Sutton on Wednesday (7.30) and neighbours Willand Rovers next Saturday.

THE wintry weather is already taking its grip on the weekend sporting fixtures.

A number of matches have already been called off after today’s snow and with freezing temperatures forecast for tonight.

Among the first casualties was Wellington’s Les Phillips Cup tie away to Radstock Town.

It is the second time the game has been called off and now a new date will have to be found.

The cancellation means Gary Domone’s side have now gone a month without a competitive fixture.

Toolstation League games off so far are at Bishop Sutton, Sherborne, Willand and Merthyr.

THE freezing weather is playing havoc with the weekend sporting programme again.

Among the casualties is Wellington’s Toolstation premier match at home to Bishop Sutton, which has just been called off because of the state of the Playing Field pitch.

It will mean a second blank weekend for Wellington, whose Les Phillips Cup tie at Radstock last Saturday was also called off.

That match will now be played on Saturday, December 18th.

THE freezing weather conditions have taken their toll on the local sporting programme today.

Among the victims was Wellington’s Les Phillips Cup tie away to Radstock  (see also, story below).

Toolstation League premier division: Wellington 1, Radstock Town 2

WELLINGTON’S poor home form continued with another odd-goal defeat – this time at the hands of Radstock on Saturday.

The game exploded into life after the break with two goals in three minutes.

Radstock took the lead just after the hour when Tom Pawley’s shot took a wicked deflection to send keeper Ryan Lewis the wrong way.

But Wellington got back on terms almost immediately as Dave Thorne was felled in the box and Ingram coolly dispatched the resulting penalty.

The next goal was always going to be all-important and it fell to Radstock after 73 minutes when Craig Mawford was harshly penalised outside the home area and Nathan Flower’s blistering free-kick flew into the top corner.

Toolstation premier division: Welton Rovers 2, Wellington 5.

STRIKER Luke Desave bagged a hat-trick as Wellington finally picked up their first away points of the season at fellow strugglers Welton Rovers last night.

Wellington took the lead after 39 minutes when Desave pounced on a defensive mix-up to net.

Their joy was shortlived, however, as Welton equalised within a minute through Jamie Jordan only for the visitors to regain their lead before the break from David Thorne’s diving header.

In the second half, Welton drew level again as keeper Ryan Lewis could only divert an inswinging corner into his own net.

But the match turned Wellington’s way as Desave produced two superb strikes in the space of two minutes.

With ten minutes remaining, Mawford burst from midfield to shoot across keeper Courtney Redwood and into the net.

On Saturday, Wellington are home to Radstock in the league (3pm).

FA Carlsberg Vase second round: Poole Town 4,  Wellington 3

WELLINGTON turned in a valiant display before being knocked out of the Vase by Poole Town in Dorset yesterday.

Both sides had their chances in a pulsating first half but Poole took the lead after 23 minutes through Steve Smith’s header and made it 2-0 four minutes into stoppage time through Kevin Gill’s low drive.

Wellington got off to the best start to the second half as Simon Ingram drove low past keeper Nic Jones.

But Poole took a grip on the tie with two more goals – a penalty converted by Micky Hubbard and a shot on the turn from Dan Cann.

However, Wellington refused to lie down and pulled two goals back through David Thorne and Ingram to set up an exciting finish.

Wellington return to league action when they are away to Welton Rovers on Tuesday and home to Radstock Town next Saturday.

Wellington had left their guard down early on as a shot was hit beyond Chris Cherry in the Tangerines goal, but to Wellington’s credit they came back well with Jake Nichol and Luke Perry putting in great effort in the midfield and up front respectively – their energy levels remained for the whole game until they were replaced.

Nichol poked one just wide of the post before Tom Phillips rose at the back post to equalise for Wellington just before the break and Dave Thomas’ team carried this momentum into the interval and would be pleased that they had ended the half better than Heavitree SU.

However all that work and momentum was undone from the kick off pretty much as Wellington dropped a defensive clanger through a mix up and Heavitree SU had an easy chance to get back in front.

Little went right for Wellington thereafter as an own goal and a penalty that was saved but hit back in on the rebound made it 4-1 to the home side in the end.

Wellington skipper Steve Luxon belied his 42 years of age and was excellent at the back for his side and Aaron Sellick – a second half substitute – performed well, but Wellington really had had a hand in their own downfall through a poor second half.

The team are on the road again this weekend when they visit Topsham with a 2.15pm kick off.

TAUNTON Town had to come from behind to knock Wellington out of the Somerset Premier Cup with a 4-1 win at the Playing Field last night.

Taunton put the home side under the cosh from the start but their lower league opponents stunned them by taking a 23rd minute lead.

Craig Herrod played in Alex Pounde and the striker scored with a low drive against his former club.

Taunton drew level after 38 minutes with a blistering free kick from ex-Wellington striker Alexis Piper

And they caught Wellington napping immediately after half-time as Jon Vance burst forward to shoot past keeper Ryan Lewis.

Wellington then kept Taunton at bay until the last seven minutes when poor defending twice let in substitute Corey Lewis to finish clinically.