Les Phillips Cup: Wellington 1, Clevedon Town 3
Wellington failed in their bid to reach the Les Phillips Cup quarter-finals as two late goals condemned them to defeat by Clevedon Town at the Playing Field.
It was the third meeting between the sides this season and, after completing a league double, the Seasiders made it a hat-trick of victories.
The game was switched to Wellington after being frozen off twice at Clevedon and there was never much to chose between the sides in a goalless first half.
Both keepers – Wellington’s Harley Wilkinson and Clevedon’s Luca Smith – pulled off some sharp stops while Glen Wright thought he had shot the hosts ahead but his effort was ruled off because the ball had gone out of play beforehand.
Clevedon finally broke the deadlock after 57 minutes when a low drive by Ethan Feltham rebounded off the post and Alex Camm nodded home the rebound.
However, Wellington drew level six minutes later as a low cross by Nathan Byrne was sliced into his own net by defender Glen Hayer for the equaliser.
The hosts opted to go three at the back as they went in search of the winner but it was Clevedon who would go on to clinch tie.
They were awarded a penalty with ten minutes to go when Nathaniel Groom went down in the area against his former club only for it to be overturned because the flag was up for offside.
But Groom was not to be denied and, when the ball broke to him in the box shortly afterwards, he made no mistake to put his side back in front.
Clevedon then made their progression into the next round a certainty when Feltham scored with a low drive in the final minute.
Wellington: Harley Wilkinson, Callum Chivers, Tom Stone, Jason Quick, Alex Cherry, Jamie Nicholson, Eli Collins, Glen Wright, Miles Quick, Jake Quick, Nathan Byrne. Substitutes: Stefan Phillips, Jack Bown-Porter and Sully McKenna (used); Tim Legg (not used).
