Stitch2Print Devon & Exeter League division one: Wellington Reserves 1, Sidmouth Town 2nds 1
After last week’s cup exit, it was was back to league action for our Reserves yesterday (Saturday, March 8th) with a mid-table clash against Sidmouth Town 2nds at the Playing Field.
Ollie Southcott was man-of-the-match and he is pictured with Steve Trevelyan who sponsored the game.
Manager Mark Owen was forced into five changes due to injuries and suspensions and he called up two U18s on to the bench – with both playing a big part later in the game.
The first half was scrappy with Wellington giving the ball away too many times and making little impact on the Sidmouth goal.
The deadlock was broken on the half-hour when the visiting team took the lead.
A free kick taken wide on the right saw the ball was swung high into the box. Charlie Hawkings in goal got a hand to it and Wellington had two chances to clear but they failed and the ball was hooked home by the Sidmouth forward.
No other real action happened and the half ended 1-0.
Wellington made some changes to the formation to start the second half with Tom Hawkings moving forward to play alongside and support Jack Bryant.
With the half only five minutes old, Wellington made an early change and brought on one of the U18s pair, Oliver Southcott, for Luke Perry and it was not long before he made an impact.
Jack Bryant made an excellent run and whipped in a fine low cross. Southcott, running in at the far post, hit a first-time shot past the keeper to make it 1-1 with an hour gone.
With Wellington now holding the ball better and finding each other, and with the young Southcott now putting loads of energy on the right, it felt like a second goal for Wellington was not far away.
On 65 minutes, Wellington went down to ten men when Tom Hawkings talked himself into the sin bin but the lads stayed strong and played as a team to see out the ten minutes a man short.
With 15 minutes to go, Owen came off to give the other U18s player, Harry Chetland, a run and he did not let himself down, playing well with Southcott on the right side.
With the game heading towards full-time and both teams defending well, Wellington were unlucky not to have a penalty when Jack Bryant was bundled over in the box.
That was the last real action with the game ending all-square.
Wellington: Charlie Hawkings, Mark Owen, Dylan Groves, Sam Bryant, Tom Davies, Aaron Hawkings, Connor Noble, Tom Hawkings, Luke Perry, Jack Bryant, Ollie Nott. Substitutes: James Beatty, Harry Chetland, Ollie Southcott (used); Alfie Barratt (not used).
