Reserves extend winning run

Stitch2Print Devon & Exeter League division one: Teigmouth 2nds 0, Wellington Reserves 1

It was another away day for our in-form Reserves with a trip to the coast to play Teignmouth 2nds.

Manager Mark Owen was hoping to build on the previous week’s excellent win but, with some key players unavailable, he was only able to take a squad of 13 players for this tricky game.

It was a tight start for both teams but Wellington created the better chances and wasted a couple of good openings and should have scored from Oli Nott and Alfie Barrett chances.

After ten minutes, Teignmouth went down to ten men as their central midfielder lunged into Tom Davies with a flying two-footed challenge and was given a straight red.

The first half remained tight as both teams probed for the opening, but man-of-the-match Charlie Hawkings was outstanding in goal with the half ending 0-0.

Owen made some tactical changes for the second half, pushing Nott up front but, to Teignmouth’s credit, they played well with their ten men defending as a team and creating the odd chance on the break.

With the game heading for a draw, Teignmouth had the best chance to break the deadlock.

A scramble in the box after a free kick saw Charlie Hawkings make a fine save to block a shot and, as he lay on the floor, he somehow managed to get a strong hand to the follow-up header from only three yards out- an unbelievable save to keep Wellington in the game.

With the match heading into the last few minutes, Wellington pushed for the winner.

From a scramble in the home box, Dylan Groves managed to get his foot to the ball and hit it past the keeper from ten yards out to spark wild scenes among the visiting squad.

All Wellington had to do was see out the last few minutes to seal the win.

Team: Charlie Hawkings, Dylan Groves, Ned Ogilvie, Connor Noble, Tom Davies, Sam Poole, Dom Healey, Aaron Hawkings, Luke Perry, Oli Nott, Alfie Barrett. Substitutes: Lenny Old (used); Mark Owen (not used).