Taunton Saturday League: Wellington A 2, Staplegrove Crusaders 0
In what could be one of the most significant results of the season, Wellington defeated title challengers Staplegrove to maintain their position at the top of the division at the halfway point.
The significance of this result should not be underestimated. Wellington had no fewer than nine players unavailable and fielded a 12 man squad against a full strength Staplegrove who, aware of the situation, may well regret approaching the game with a little too much complacency.
Wellington made the perfect start when Tom Scarlett made himself free at the back post to turn in a flicked on header from Jordan Sellick. From that moment, the Tangerine Army had something to protect and every player put their body on the line to shut out an increasingly frustrated Staplegrove.
Man of the match Sully Harlow was superb and saved everything that came his way including a number of one-on-one situations. In front of him, the back four won every header and cleared every second ball including league debutant Harry Nixon.
The midfield were tireless throughout and well supportive of each other.
And finally, the attack refused to give up creating opportunities. Cameron Perry Jones left his marker for dead on numerous occasions, Scarlett led the line with a fearless attitude and threw himself into and over everything, and Jordan Sellick was continuously a threat on the left, so much so that it would be Sellick who was well placed to slot home the second goal of the game in the middle of the second half.
At 2-0, Wellington refused to become complacent themselves and did everything to ensure the keeping of a clean sheet. To this extent, the closest either side came to scoring the third goal was Sellick’s header hitting the post towards the very end.
The final whistle was met with relief and a huge sense of pride. This was a Wellington side who fought for the shirt and well deserve their lead at the top of the division.
