Wellington AFC

Toolstation League premier division: Street 0, Wellington 2

WELLINGTON leapfrogged over Street into fifth place in the premier division table with a hard-earned revenge victory yesterday.

Wellington went ahead after 19 minutes as Simon Ingram’s free-kick was headed against the bar by Dan Short but Matt Francis was on hand to nod home the rebound.

Street’s cause was not helped 12 minutes into the second half when their most dangerous player Kye Palmer was dismissed for needlessly hacking down Darren Stone.

And Wellington sealed an important win with eight minutes remaining as they enjoyed the sort of luck in front of goal which had deserted them in recent games.

This time, Ingram rolled a free-kick short to Craig Herrod and the winger’s low shot from just outside the box ended up in the net with the help of a wicked deflection.

Wellington: Ryan Lewis, Craig Mawford, Dan Short, Andy Robertson, Jack Adams, Darren Stone, Simon Ingram, Ricky Davey, Craig Herrod, Shane Kingston, Matt Francis. Substitutes, Mark Thompson (used) and Luke Desave (not used).

IT is going to be a blank Saturday for Wellington AFC tomorrow after all three matches involving our senior sides were called off.

The reserve team and third team games in the Devon and Exeter League were both postponed earlier today.

And now the first team’s Toolstation League premier division fixture at Devizes has also fallen victim to the heavy snow.

Wellington’s match at Melksham on Monday was also frozen off and so the side will now have to fit in both long trips to Wiltshire.

Ironically, Wellington would have been without several key players tomorrow because they have gone ski-ing … they could have stayed at home!

Les Phillips Cup: Wellington 4, Bradford Town 5 (after extra time)

WELLINGTON were knocked out of the cup by division one leaders Bradford Town in a nine-goal thriller at the Playing Field on Saturday.

The game exploded into life just after the half-hour with four goals in eight minutes.

Liam Milburn put Bradford ahead with a penalty after a foul by Wellington skipper Simon Ingram, who then scored from the spot himself after Shane Kingston had been brought down.

Matt Francis scrambled Wellington ahead after 38 minutes only for the visitors to equalise before the break through Steve Tweddle’s bullet header.

Wellington regained their lead 20 minutes into the second half, Ingram again scoring from the spot after Craig Herrod had been hauled down.

But, urged on by their vociferous supporters, Bradford came back yet again five minutes from time when home keeper Ryan Lewis could only push Tweddle’s shot out to Matt Minnis, who gleefully accepted the chance.

The visitors almost sealed the tie in normal tie as Lewis pulled off a brilliant save to keep out Jerad O’Pray’s overhead kick.

But the keeper turned from hero to villain three minutes into extra time with a sliced clearance which presented Minnis with the chance to make it 4-3.

Six minutes later it was all-square again as Ingram played Darren Stone into space and he scored the goal of the game with a blistering cross-shot.

But Bradford clinched victory in the 109th minute when more sloppy defensive play let in O’Pray to neatly clip the ball past Lewis.

Wellington threw men forward in a bid to take the game to penalties but Francis and sub Andy Butler were both denied by the crossbar.

WELLINGTON recorded their first win since December 6 when they beat Brislington 2-1 at the Playing Field yesterday.

But they left it late and had to wait until injury time before scoring the winner.

Wellington hit the bar twice in the first half and dominated most of the game.

Yet it was Brislington who went ahead midway in the second half from a spectacular volley by Russ Church.

Wellington got back on terms within minutes as Matt Francis headed his first goal for the club.

It looked like they would have to settle for a point but they snatched victory right at the death as Aussie striker Darren Stone raced away to net.

Toolstation League premier division: Wellington 1, Frome Town 3.

WELLINGTON went down to defeat as they returned to action against highly-rated Frome Town at the Playing Field yesterday.

The visitors scored twice in the first 11 minutes as first a cross was headed home by Matt Rawlins and then a shot on the turn saw Mark Salter dive to head home.

Wellington got the breakthrough after 32 minutes when a cross by skipper Simon Ingram found defender Scott Holland, who scored with a looping header.

But Frome restored their two-goal advantage from the re-start, Sam Duggan skipping through the defence to score past keeper Ryan Lewis.

Wellington were unlucky to be denied by the woodwork no fewer than three times – once in the first half and twice in the second.

WITH their past two matches frozen off, Wellington warmed up for their return to action with a friendly at the Playing Field last night.

They entertained Peninsular League side Ottery St Mary and recorded a thumping 5-0 victory.

Wellington’s best football was played in the first half as they ran in goals by new striker Matt Francis (two) and leading scorer Shane Kingston (two).

Skipper Simon Ingram completed the rout with the fifth goal in the second half.

This Saturday, Wellington host Frome Town in the premier division of the Toolstation League.

WELLINGTON manager Leigh Robinson has acted quickly to remedy his side’s lack of match practice.

He has arranged a friendly against Peninsular League side Ottery St Mary at the Playing Field on Wednesday night (7.45).

Wellington’s past two games – at home to Radstock and Ilfracombe – have both been frozen off.

They are home to Frome Town in an important premier division match on Saturday.

WELLINGTON have again fallen victim to the weather as their Toolstation League premier division game at home to Ilfracombe yesterday was called off.

The frozen Playing Field pitch failed a 10am pitch inspection by local referee Mike Hall and the game will now be re-arranged.

The same fate occurred the previous Saturday when Wellington had been due to host Radstock.

Wellington are home again next Saturday, January 17th, when they entertain Frome Town.

WELLINGTON’S Toolstation League premier division game at home to Radstock today was called off.

The frozen Playing Field pitch failed an 11am pitch inspection by local referee Mike Hall and the game will now be re-arranged.

Wellington are home again next Saturday, January 10th, when they entertain Ilfracombe Town.

Toolstation League premier division: Ilfracombe Town 1, Wellington 1.

A CONTROVERSIAL late penalty robbed Wellington of victory over ten-man Ilfracombe in North Devon on Saturday.

Ilfracombe’s Lee Francis brushed past an innocuous challenge by Craig Herrod as he entered the box and the referee surprised everyone by pointing to the spot.

Francis stepped up to net the equaliser and earn a point for his side, who were forced to play more for than half the game a man down.

Ilfracombe almost took a dramatic lead inside the first minute when Andy Stevens raced clear and beat keeper Ryan Lewis only to roll his shot agonisingly wide.

But that proved a rare threat from the home side as Wellington bossed the game only to be thwarted by countless blocked shots and a fine display by keeper Steve Oliver.

Ilfracombe defender James Mayne was sent off just before half time for retaliating to a tackle by Shane Kingston, which earned the striker a yellow card.

Wellington broke the deadlock on the hour as Craig Herrod released Kingston and he was scythed down in the box, skipper Ingram confidently dispatching the resulting penalty.

But they then conceded the hotly-disputed 86th minute penalty equaliser.

Wellington: Ryan Lewis, Craig Mawford, Daniel Short, Scott Holland, Jack Adams, Jon Crowford, Simon Ingram, Andy Butler, Craig Herrod, Shane Kingston, Darren Stone. Substitutes, Andy Robertson, Luke Desave and Mark Thompson (all used).