Wellington AFC

Toolstation League division one: Shrewton United 3, Wellington 3

WELLINGTON had to settle for a point earned from a late fightback in a pulsating game in Wiltshire on Saturday.

And they will have been disappointed that their championship charge suffered a hiccup against a side forced to play most of the second half with ten men.

Shrewton had been hammered 5-0 by Wellington’s title rivals Sherborne the previous week and the visitors dominated the opening exchanges only to be let down repeatedly by a poor final pass.

Shrewton took the lead against the run of play after 43 minutes. The ball was played forward to Shaun Collins, who brought it under control before sending a 25-yard shot sailing over keeper Stuart Wood.

Wellington boss Leigh Robinson re-shaped his side at half-time, bringing on Danny Cockram up front, and they equalised ten minutes after the restart when Craig Herrod was clipped in the box and skipper Simon Ingram scored his 23rd goal of the season from the penalty spot.

Shrewton’s Anton Brownless was red-carded for his reaction to the penalty but his departure seemed to spur on his team-mates and within ten minutes they were 3-1 up.

First, striker Jesse Walters was sent racing clear to net and then Wood produced a comic-book howler as he made a complete hash of dealing with a back-pass and left Craig Lewis with a simple tap-in.

Wellington launched attack after attack on the home goal to get back into the game but Shrewton keeper Charles Aldridge took centre stage with a remarkable series of saves.

The visitors did pull a goal back nine minutes from time as Ingram found Jon Crowford out wide on the right and his teasing ball in saw substitute Nick Woon score with a glancing header.

Five minutes later, Aldridge produced the best of his saves to keep out a trademark Ingram free kick and it looked like Wellington would be making the long journey back empty handed.

But two minutes into injury time, they scored the equaliser they deserved as Shane Kingston laid the ball back to Alex Pounde, who drove low into the net.

By now, ten-man Shrewton were reeling and Wellington almost snatched a remarkable victory with virtually the last kick of the match when Andy Butler’s drive struck a defender on the line and was cleared.

Wellington: Stuart Wood, Craig Mawford, Daniel Short, Scott Holland, Mark Branton, Jon Crowford, Simon Ingram, Andy Butler, Craig Herrod, Alex Pounde, Shane Kingston. Substitutes, Danny Cockram, Nick Woon and Jack Adams (all used).

WELLINGTON warmed up for Saturday’s trip to Shrewton with a crushing 9-1 victory over Somerset County League side Bishops Lydeard at the Playing Field on Tuesday night.

Andy Clarke gave Lydeard an early lead but Wellington immediately took control and ran out comfortable winners with goals from Simon Ingram (two, one penalty), Jon Crowford (two), Shane Kingston (two), Alex Pounde, Craig Herrod and Daniel Short.

WELLINGTON have arranged a friendly at the Playing Field tonight (Tuesday).

They will be taking on Somerset County League side Bishops Lydeard in a match kicking off at 7.45pm.

Wellington were without a game again last Saturday but return to action this weekend when they travel to play Shrewton United.

THE long-awaited clash between the two favourites for promotion to the Toolstation League’s premier division ended in a 0-0 stalemate before the biggest crowd of the season at the Playing Field on Saturday.

As a spectacle, the game failed to live up to expectations with few chances created as the two sides cancelled each other out in virtually every department.

Sherborne started brightly but Wellington got into their stride and Alex Pounde, who always looked lively up front, twice went close with shots after jinking runs.

But it was the visitors who had the best chance of the first half after 42 minutes as Wellington failed to cut out a through ball and Andy Martin raced clear only to blast his shot wide.

The home start began the second half confidently and almost broke the deadlock twice within a few minutes.

First, Nick Woon played in Pounde, who took the ball wide of keeper James Smith but saw his angled shot clip the post.

Then Woon was the provider again, this time setting up Craig Herrod, whose shot was saved by the legs of Smith.
After that, the game fizzled out as both sides nervously struggled to play with any cohesion.

Sherborne almost snatched an 71st minute winner as a free kick was nodded down to Steve MacDaid but he fired wide of the target.

Wellington: Stuart Wood, Craig Mawford, Scott Holland, Dan Short, Mark Branton, Jon Crowford, Simon Ingram, Andy Butler, Craig Herrod, Nick Woon, Alex Pounde. Subs: Shane Kingston and Jack Adams (both used), Alex Rudd (not used).

WHILE Wellington mount a promotion charge, club officials are working hard to ensure the Playing Field is up to scratch for premier division football.

Chairman Ken Bird said: “We have met with the Toolstation League and been made aware of the various work required to bring the ground to premier standard.

“Among the requirements are a covered seating area for 100 people with a further covered standing area for 150.
“We also need to look at perimeter fencing and possibly upgrading our floodlights.

“We are applying to the Football Foundation and other bodies for help towards the funding and also applying for the necessary planning permission.”

“There is a lot of work to do in a short amount of time but we are working hard to ensure everything happens.

“The next step is to meet with the league again to ensure we are moving in the right direction,” he added.

WELLINGTON moved back to the top of the table with a dramatic 2-1 victory at Westbury on Saturday.

And it was a game defender Mark Branton, making his debut, will never forget. The left-back, signed from premier division Hallen, had a penalty awarded against him with 15 minutes remaining, allowing Westbury to break the deadlock.

But – after another newcomer Danny Cockram had equalised – Branton popped up in the home side’s penalty area to head an injury-time winner.

Without suspended skipper Simon Ingram and the injured Shane Kingston and Dan Boere, Wellington boss Leigh Robinson had three new signings in his starting line-up, including wide man Jon Crowford, who has re-joined the club.

And two of them almost played a part in giving Wellington an early lead as Crowford released Alex Pounde and his cross found Cockram but the ex-Taunton Town player’s shot was blocked.

The game was a lacklustre affair until it exploded into life in the final stages. Stand-in skipper Andy Butler went closest to scoring in the first half with an 11th-minute header which came down off the underside of the bar.

But neither side created a clearcut chance after the interval until Westbury went ahead in controversial circumstances in the 75th minute.

Ashley Groves swung over a cross from the right, which hit the covering Branton, and the referee’s assistant ruled he had handled, Wayne Wheeler scoring from the spot.

The Wellington response was virtually immediate as Crowford floated over a cross from the right and Cockram rose above everyone to head the equaliser. That was the signal for the visitors to stage a late rally and they were rewarded in the third minute of added time.

Substitute Jack Adams chipped the ball up to the far post where Nick Woon headed it against the bar and Branton nodded it over the line to spark wild joy among the Wellington players and bench.

Wellington: Stuart Wood, Craig Mawford, Dan Short, Scott Holland, Mark Branton, Jon Crowford, Andy Butler, Danny Cockram, Craig Herrod, Nick Woon, Alex Pounde. Substitutes, Jack Adams, Matt Brown and Tim Legg (all used).