Wellington AFC

Toolstation League Division One: Street 4, Wellington 1

WELLINGTON’S new management team of Paul West and Ian Jackson were left seething by their side’s comprehensive defeat at Street last Saturday.

After two successive victories, they had gone into the match full of confidence and with three of the team taking on the club they played for last season.

Street made the breakthrough midway through the first-half as Lee Ashton scored with a thumping header from a corner with the ball ending up in the net through a crowd of players.

Four minutes later it was 2-0 as a rebound put Ben Anger in space on the right and his low cross was turned in at the far post by Kieron White.
Wellington clawed their way back into the game in the 32nd minute when Piper was sent racing clear and cleverly flicked the ball past keeper Tom Punchard to open his scoring account for the season.
That goal gave Wellington hope for the second half but their response was muted with far too many passes going astray and some poor defending.
Street sealed the points with two goals in four minutes midway through the half.
The first came from a well-worked free-kick as White peeled away from the ball which was then slipped to him by Dovey and he scored with a low shot.
If that was a disappointing goal to concede, the fourth was even worse as Wellington carelessly gave the ball away again and it was slipped through to Dovey, who rounded keeper Dave Attwood to net.

WELLINGTON notched up their second successive victory in convincing style at Clyst.

Paul West’s side scored two goals either side of the interval through Matt Brereton (two), Nick Woon and Simon Olds.

Full report in Thursday’s Somerset County Gazette.

Saturday, August 20th: Cadbury Heath 1, Wellington 2

WELLINGTON recorded their first win of the season at the third attempt as they notched up victory at Cadbury Heath.

They trailed 1-0 at the interval after conceding a sloppy goal after 15 minutes.

But Wellington hit back to deservedly take all three points thanks to second half strikes by Simon Ingram and Nick Woon.

August 18th: Larkhall Athletic 1, Wellington 0

WELLINGTON suffered their second successive defeat as they were pipped by the odd goal at Larkhall.

The deciding moment of the match came after 35 minutes after Larkhall scored on the follow-up after a flying save by Wellington keeper Ross Ward.

The visitors pressed for an equaliser but the closest they came was a volley by Nick Woon, which thumped against the bar.

Wellington: Ward, Hughes, Hammond, Brereton (Matt), Norman, Butler, Ingram, Burne, Aspin, Piper, Woon. Subs: Fowler (used), Anthony and Maunder (not used)

August 13th: Bridport 4, Wellington 2

FOOTBALL is a funny old game they say … but try telling that to Wellington’s new management team of Paul West and Ian Jackson.

After an intense pre-season spent building and training a new squad, they went into last Saturday’s opening game away to relegated Bridport full of expectation.

But there was simply nothing they could do to prevent some quite woeful defending which gifted the Dorset side four goals before half-time to virtually finish the match as a contest.

And although Wellington, fielding no fewer than six new signings, pulled two back early in the second half, they had left themselves far too big a mountain to climb.

West has joined Wellington after a long and successful career with Taunton Town and so it was ironic that an ex-Taunton player should prove to be the biggest thorn in his side on his managerial debut.

Striker Simon Gale gave his side the lead after less than two minutes and then made it 2-0 20 minutes later – on both occasions with the Wellington defence at sixes and sevens as they failed to clear their lines.

And he had a hand in the third ten minutes before the break when he was brought down by new defender Mark Hughes for a penalty which Dan Wise coolly converted.

If things were bad for Wellington, they got even worse on the stroke of half-time as Tony Cunningham pounced on a mistake by John Norman to make it 4-0.

The visitors were undoubtedly on the receiving end of some choice words at the interval and looked a different side as they struck twice in three minutes early in the second half.

First defender Greg Hammond bundled the ball over the line after keeper Martin Peters had dropped a Simon Ingram corner.

And then Alexis Piper found himself in space and, when his shot came back off the post, strike partner Nick Woon was on hand to open his account for the season.

That spurred Wellington into life but they failed to make any further inroads on the scoreline with Hammond seeing a goalbound header blocked and Ingram being denied by a flying save from Peters right at the death.

Wellington: Ward, Hughes, Hammond, Bowrah, Norman, Butler, Ingram, Gage, Aspin, Woon, Piper. Substitutes, Fowler (used), Brereton (Matt) and Anthony (both not used).

WELLINGTON have secured the signature of striker Alexis Piper.

Last season’s top scorer in the league had appeared for Minehead in a friendly but has opted to stay at the Playing Field.

Piper has been impressive in Wellington’s four friendlies and manager Paul West is delighted to get his man.
“I’m over the moon Alex has signed for us,” he said.
“He has done very well in pre-season and I expect him to score a lot of goals for us this season.”
Wellington have completed their friendly programme and now look forward to their opening Toolstation League match away to Bridport on August 13. The Dorset side were relegated from the Premier Division last season.

WELLINGTON could hold their heads high despite going down 3-0 away to Western League champions Bideford in a keenly-contested friendly on Tuesday (August 2nd).

Their new management team of Paul West and Ian Jackson were missing a number of players for the game while Bideford were at full-strength.
The home side went ahead through ex-Taunton Town striker Ellis Laight after only four minutes.
However, Wellington regained their composure and played some good football with Matt Brereton and Alexis Piper both going close.
Bideford should have increased their lead when they were awarded a penalty after 27 minutes but new keeper Ross Ward pulled off an excellent save from Robert Gough.
And there was an element of luck about their second goal on the stroke of half-time as Laight played a neat one-two in the box but the ball looped into the net thanks to a wicked deflection.
Wellington kept plugging away after the break with Matt Fowler, Andy Butler, Piper and Simon Ingram all bringing good saves from ex-Taunton keeper Kenny Griffiths.
But Bideford had the final say as Pete Varley headed their third goal with eight minutes remaining.

August
Sat 13 Bridport Away L 4-2 Woon/Hammond
Wed 17 Larkhall Athletic Away L 1-0
Sat 20 Cadbury Heath Away W 1-2 Woon/Ingram
September
Sat 03 Clyst Rovers Away W 1-4 Brereton(2)Woon/Old
Sat 10 Street Away L 4-1 Piper
Wed 14 Dawlish Town Home W 1-0 Gage 7.45pm KO
Sat 17 Calne Town Home W 3-1 Norman/Ingram/Woon FA Vase 1st RQ
Sat 24 Elmore Away L 4-2 Woon/Hammond
October
Sat 01 Ringwood Home W 1-0 Piper FA Vase 2nd RQ
Wed 05 Weston St. Johns Home L 1-3 Woon (pen) Les Phillips Cup Preliminary Round
Sat 08 Longwell Green Away W 1-2 Piper/Woon
Wed 12 Shepton Mallet Home W 2-1 Piper/og
Sat 15 Minehead Away D 1-1 Woon
Wed 19 Portishead Home D 1-1 Woon
Sat 22 Saltash United Away L 4-2 Ingram/Piper
Wed 26 Street Home D 1-1 Ingram
Sat 29 Bemerton Hth H’quins Home L 1-2 Butler FA Vase 1st round proper
November
Sat 12 Weston St. Johns Home W 4-2 Woon(2 [1pen])/Bowrah/Gage
Wed 16 Clevedon United Away L 2-0 Somerset Prem Cup (2nd round)
Sat 19 Westbury United Away D 3-3 Gage/Crowford/Piper
December
Sat 03 Biddestone Home
Sat 10 Bradford Town Away 2pm KO
Sat 17 Cadbury Heath Home
Wed 21 Larkhall Athletic Home
Tue 27 Chard Town Home 3pm KO
Sat 31 Clevedon United Away
January 2006
Wed 11 Minehead Home
Sat 14 Clyst Rovers Home
Sat 21 Saltash United Home
Sat 28 Ilfracombe Town Away
February
Wed 01 Bradford Town Home
Sat 04 Elmore Home
Sat 11 Longwell Green Home
Sat 18 Bridport Home
Sat 25 Almondsbury Home
March
Sat 04 Portishead Away
Wed 08 Ilfracombe Town Home
Sat 11 Almondsbury Away
Tue 14 Dawlish Town Away 7.45pm KO
Sat 18 Weston St. Johns Away
Tue 28 Shepton Mallet Away
April
Sat 01 Shrewton United Away
Sat 08 Westbury United Home
Sat 15 Biddestone Away
Mon 17 Chard Town Away
Sat 29 Clevedon United Home

To be arranged :- Shrewton United (Home) Version 24 (21/11/2005)

WELLINGTON manager Paul West has enojoyed a dream start to his pre-season friendly programme with his side securing good victories in their opening two matches.

The Tangerines played some great football as they cruised to a 6-2 victory away to Devon League outfit Ottery St Mary.
Alexis Piper looked particularly sharp as he netted a hat-trick.
Nick Woon, who has joined the club from Street, scored from close range with John Norman and Simon Ingram, direct from a free-kick, also on target.
Last Saturday, Wellington travelled to take-on another Devon League side — Budleigh Salterton — and came away with a 4-2
victory.
Piper helped himself to two goals with Norman and Craig Aspin completing the scoring.
In their third game, Wellington were held to a 1-1 draw by a tough Nailsea United side on the SCAT Astroturf pitch.

WELLINGTON boss Paul West has made two new signings in his bid to build a promotion-winning side.

Former Wellington, Willand Rovers and Barnstaple defender Nick Bowrah and ex-Elmore and Blackbrook midfielder Mark Andrews have joined the Toolstation League club who began pre-season training last Saturday.

West’s squad is now beginning to take shape with Bowrah and Andrews joining prolific striker Nick Woon as the former Taunton midfielder’s first signings as manager.
All of last season’s first team squad have appeared at training, along with a number of top young players from Taunton.
“I’m very pleased with the signings and the attitude of everyone at training,” said West.
“If we can sign the group of Taunton lads I want we will be in with a great chance of promotion this season.”
Wellington train every Saturday, Tuesday and Thursday, with this weekend’s session taking place at the Norton Manor Camp (10am start).