Les Phillips Cup first round: Wellington 3, Bishops Lydeard 2
Striker Jake Quick marked his return to the side by firing Wellington into the next round of the Toolstation League’s Les Phillips Cup at the Playing Field last night (October 20th).
Unavailable for the 2-0 defeat at home to Sherborne Town on Saturday, Quick fired a hat-trick in an entertaining local derby which saw the Tangerines pushed all the way.
The result earned Wellington a challenging second round tie away to cup holders and premier division leaders Bridgwater United on November 15th or 16th.
Both sides contained a host of players taking on their former club with Lydeard, who play in the first division, managed by ex-Wellington boss Paul West.
The visitors, whose performance belied their lowly league position, had the first serious effort on goal after 22 minutes when George Sinnott’s drive was well blocked by keeper Harley Wilkinson but it was the hosts who broke the deadlock four minutes later.
Shortly after Tom Stone had a header blocked on the line, Jamie Nicholson did well to win the ball on the left and his low cross was turned home by Quick, who joined Wellington from Lydeard along with his brothers Jason and Miles.
Wilkinson pulled off a great save to keep out Ryan Brereton’s well-struck free-kick after 37 minutes and it remained 1-0 until the break.
Wellington doubled their advantage just before the hour mark as the ball dropped to Quick in the box and he drove it into the net with the help of a deflection.
Lydeard refused to lie down and Brereton – son of former Tangerines midfielder Matt – burst forward to pull a goal back with an unstoppable shot.
The home side restored their two-goal advantage with 11 minutes remaining when Eli Collins was brought down as he took the ball round keeper Nathan Whatley and Quick completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot.
Some thought that might have been game over, only for Lydeard to pull another goal back in the closing minutes with a thumping header from Brereton which the inside of the post with the referee’s assistant ruling that the ball subsequently crossed the line.
That set up a tense finish for Wellington, but they held firm for a welcome victory.
Wellington: Harley Wilkinson, Mark Cornish, Tom Stone, Jason Quick, Jamie Nicholson, Eli Collins, Sam Towler, Glen Wright, Heon Jin, Jake Quick, Miles Quick. Subs: Jack Bown-Porter, Harvey Dorothy and Stefan Phillips (used); Alex Cherry (not used).
Next up for Wellington is an Isuzu FA Vase first round tie at home to Barnstaple Town on Saturday (ko 3pm).
