Wellington AFC

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).

Toolstation League premier division: Wellington 1, Melksham Town 1

AN injury time goal by leading scorer Shane Kingston earned Wellington a deserved point against Melksham Town at the Playing Field yesterday.

Wellington dominated the game for long periods and both Craig Herrod and Kingston failed to hit the target from good positions.

Sub Daniel Sloan nearly gave Melksham the lead after 70 minutes only to sidefoot wide with the goal at his mercy.

But three minutes later they did go ahead as a free kick was headed on and skipper Ricky Trott was given too much space to fire powerfully past keeper Ryan Lewis.

Wellington felt they were denied a certain penalty when Herrod appeared to be upended in the box.

And they will feel justice was done two minutes into injury time when new signing Simon Bochenski saw a shot blocked by Evans but Kingston drilled home through a crowd of players.

Wellington: Ryan Lewis, Craig Mawford, Daniel Short, Scott Holland, Jack Adams, Darren Stone, Simon Ingram, Andy Butler, Craig Herrod, Simon Bochenski, Shane Kingston. Substitutes, Jon Crowford (used), Mark Thompson and Luke Desave (not used).

MYSTERY surrounds the non-arrival of Calne Town for their premier division match against Wellington at the Playing Field on Saturday.

The pitch was given the all-clear after heavy overnight rain by a 10am inspection conducted by a local referee.

But a call to Calne when they failed to show by 2pm saw the Wiltshire club claim they had received a call to say the game was off.

The Wellington players were already out warming up when they were told the match would have to be cancelled.

It is understood the matter is now being investigated by the Toolstation League.

WELLINGTON boss Leigh Robinson has been named the Toolstation League premier division man-of-the-month for November.

The award follows his side’s outstanding run, which saw them climb to third place in the table.

Congratulations from everyone at the club on this well-deserved accolade.

Toolstation League premier division: Chard Town 0, Wellington 2.

WELLINGTON bounced back from their surprise defeat at home to Street with a well-earned victory away to local rivals Chard Town yesterday.

It looked like the sides would go into the break with the scoreline goalless but then Wellington took the lead on the stroke of half-time.

Shane Kingston cleverly nodded the ball into the path of Stone, who showed electrifying pace to burst past his defender and score with a low shot across Hutchings.

Chard threatened occasionally after the break, although Wellington were always were on top and nearly extended their lead when Jack Adams saw a thundering shot from long range smack against the bar.

The home side created their only clearcut opening shortly afterwards as Joseph Simmons was played into a scoring position but keeper Ryan Lewis raced out to produce a marvellous block.

Both Adams and Craig Herrod should have made Chard pay for that miss but were unable to put away chances before Wellington sealed the points with a second goal eight minutes from time.

Jon Crowford burst down the right before pulling the ball back for leading scorer Kingston to provide a typically clinical finish.

Any hope Chard had of a late revival ended in the dying minutes when Mark Scott was sent off for hacking down Kingston.

Wellington: Ryan Lewis, Craig Mawford, Andy Robertson, Daniel Short, Jack Adams, Jon Crowford, Andy Butler, Scott Holland, Craig Herrod, Darren Stone, Shane Kingston. Substitutes, Simon Ingram (used), Graham Burne and Mark Thompson (not used).