Jewson Western League premier division: Wellington 0, AFC St Austell 1

Wellington’s run of defeats continued as they conceded the double to St Austell at the Playing Field yesterday (Saturday, December 14th).

Skipper Kieran Bailey was our man-of-the-match and he’s pictured receiving the award from match sponsor, Phil Conn.

The result was all the more disappointing because the visitors – eight places below them in the table – played for more than half with match with ten men after a red card.

The Tangerines were playing their first league game in a month and manager Richard Cherry was able to welcome back skipper Kieran Bailey for his first start since suffering an ankle injury, while the subs included young striker Alex Parsons, signed from Street.

Both sides had their chances in the first half with home keeper Jake Viney pulling off an excellent double save and, at the other end, Mark Cornish was denied by an equally fine save from Andrew Collings.

But the game took a dramatic turn eight minutes before the break when a lunging tackle on Jordan Hayman by St Austell’s Ollie Brokenshire saw him sent off with Hayman booked for his reaction.

That boosted Wellington’s hopes of a breakthrough but they lost their way in the second half and were indebted to Viney for another flying save to push over a deflected shot after 53 minutes.

Jake Quick turned Sam Gleeson’s cross just wide of the post shortly afterwards before St Austell broke the deadlock on the hour mark.

A corner from the right was headed towards goal and big striker Adam Carter gave Viney no chance with a thumping header.

Wellington threw men forward in search of an equaliser but man-of-the-match Bailey saw one fierce drive deflected over and another, in the closing minutes, superbly turned over by Collings.

It was a fourth successive defeat for the Tangerines – now tenth in the table – and they’ll be looking to put that right next Saturday when Torpoint Athletic visit the Playing Field.

Wellington: Jake Viney, Jordan Hayman, Tom Stone, Kieran Bailey, Alex Cherry, Mark Cornish, Sam Pashen, Sam Towler, Sam Gleeson, Josh Lukins, Jake Quick. Substitutes: Kieran Ireland, Alex Parsons, Will Pinnick, Lewis Jennings (all used).

Photos courtesy of Around Wellington.