Stitch2Print Devon & Exeter League premier division: Wellington Reserves 1, Winkleigh 0
Playing their first home game of the season in front of a large crowd, the Reserves had a tough test against an unbeaten Winkleigh team.
Manager Mark Owen had a full squad to select from and wanted to bounce back from the disappointing away defeat the previous week.
Wellington starting the game downhill and made all the play but could not break down a well organised Winkleigh side.
When they did have a chance, the Winkleigh keeper dealt well with everything and the half ended frustratingly at 0-0.
Owen made a half-time change, bringing Luke Perry on for Sam Poole and pushing Ollie Nott back into the middle of the park.
Again, Wellington took the game to Winkleigh and created all the chances but with excellent defending and poor finishing they could not make the breakthrough.
Winkleigh relied on breaks with both wingers causing some issues but with the Wellington defence being led well by keeper Charlie Hawkings and centre halves Sam Bryant and Tom Davies.
With 15 minutes to go, a good move up the left wing led to the ball being fed into Jack Bryant.
He controlled it well with his chest, turned the defender and hit an unstoppable shot past the keeper into the opposite corner – 1-0 to Wellington.
Owen made a number of changes to keep the energy going in warm conditions and the side played well to keep Winkleigh at bay, holding out for an excellent result.
Man-of-the-match was Jack Bryant who received the award from match sponsors Reg and Jenny Oxby (photo above).
Wellington: Charlie Hawkings, Dylan Groves, Scott Merritt, Tom Davies, Sam Bryant, Wes Poulsom, Arron Hawkings, Sam Poole, Ollie Nott, Jack Bryant, Alfie Barratt. Substitutes: Luke Perry, Connor Noble, Lenny Old, James Beatty (used ); Mark Owen (not used ).
