Stitch2Print Devon & Exeter League premier division: Wellington Reserves 3, St Martins 3
Our Reserves returned to league action at the Playing Field after the previous week’s cup victory.
The game started off scrappily with neither team able to hold the ball and control play.
But, after 20 minutes, it came to life with some unusual decisions from the referee who ruled offside against Connor Noble and Alfie Barrett despite the flag not going up.
Wellington were not to be denied and, after 25 minutes, man-of-the-match Ben Evett found space on the right, drove forward and played a great cross to the back post where Barrett met the ball first time and drove it into the net – 1-0 to the Tangerines.
Wellington were forced into a change on the half-hour when Aaron Hawkings was replaced due to injury with Sam Poole coming on.
Five minutes later, they failed to clear a long pass from the back and, as the ball fell to the St Martins forward racing forward, keeper Charlie Hawkings was judged to have brought down the attacker just outside the box, resulting in a yellow card.
From the resulting free kick, St Martins equalised as the ball was curled around the wall into the bottom corner.
Wellington’s response was instant and what a goal it was! Evett received the ball out wide on the right 30 yards out and, as he cut inside, he skipped past four defenders and into the box where he hit a low shot into the bottom corner.
Wellington led 2-1 at the break and the second half started apace from both teams.
The game was end-to-end and, from a St Martins break, Charlie Hawkings pulled off an outstanding save from close range.
However, from the resulting corner, the visitors equalised again from a close range shot as Wellington failed to clear.
On 65 minutes, St Martins took the lead for the first time when one of their midfielders hit a speculative shot from fully 30 yards. The ball seemed to be flying well wide but Noble got his head to it and it deflected up and over the stranded keeper.
Wellington had a penalty decision turned down by the referee with ten minutes remaining as Evett looked to be clipped and went down in the box but the referee waved play on.
Wellington now decided to go with three at the back as they pushed for an equaliser and, with the game moving into added time, Evett played a cross to the back post where sub Freddie Margetts headed home the equaliser.
The Tangerines could not find the winner in the remaining minutes and the game ended all-square.
Welington: Charlie Hawkings, Mark Owen, Scott Merritt, Connor Noble, Tom Davies, Sam Bryant, Wes Poulsom, Aaron Hawkings, Alfie Barrett, Tom Hawkings, Ben Evett. Substitutes: Sam Poole, Luke Perry, James Beatty, Freddie Margetts, Dylan Groves (all used).