Toolstation League premier division: Bridgwater Town 2, Wellington 1
Injury-hit Wellington failed to build on their first win of the season, going down to an odd-goal defeat against local rivals Bridgwater Town at Fairfax Park.
Tim Legg’s side had won their previous game at Hallen 2-1 after their opponents had a man sent off but this time the tables were turned as they suffered the same fate with the same result.
Legg was without a string of players although Wellington still gave a good account of themselves despite playing more than half the game with only ten men.
The two sides – both featuring players taking on their former club – met at the Playing Field only last month and were locked together at 3-3 when the game was abandoned after a floodlights failure with only four minutes remaining.
And they served up another entertaining contest on a pitch which held up well despite torrential rain beforehand.
The first half ended goalless with Bridgwater’s Jack Taylor missing the best chance after 40 minutes when he was sent racing clear only to be denied by keeper Chandler Hallett.
The pivotal moment came shortly afterwards as the players lined up for a home corner. The referee spotted an off-the-ball incident and visiting defender Kai Fisher, signed on the day of the game, was shown a red card.
Wellington, with Legg coming on in defence, had their backs to the wall after the break but held firm with some fine goalkeeping from Hallett.
They could even have gone ahead after 52 minutes when an excellent break saw Jesse Howe play in George Sinnott but he failed to hit the target.
But it was Bridgwater who broke the deadlock after 64 minutes with Taylor swinging over a cross from the right and Mark Armstrong rising to head home.
Another ex-Wellington man, substitute Conor Bryant, sealed the points with nine minutes remaining, driving low past the diving Hallett, although there was still time for the visitors to pull a goal back from a looping header by Jason Quick.
Wellington: Chandler Hallett, Josh Champion, Jason Quick, Kai Fisher, Jack Lewis, Ollie Holman, Mason Raymond, Scott Merritt, Miles Quick, George Sinnott, Jesse Howe. Substitutes: Tim Legg, Max Dyer and Wes Poulsom (all used). Attendance: 262.
