Jewson Western League premier division: Sidmouth Town 3, Wellington 0
Wellington suffered their second defeat in four days as they were beaten away to newly-promoted Sidmouth Town last night (Tuesday).
The match began in bizarre fashion — or rather, it didn’t. Just 33 seconds after kick-off, all the floodlights went out, plunging Manstone Lane into darkness and prompting a temporary halt in play. Thankfully, after a brief delay, the game resumed.
Once the lights were back on, it was the hosts who shone brightest.
Sidmouth came close in just the second minute, rattling the post with a header from an early corner — a warning sign for Wellington. The visitors responded with a free-kick in the seventh minute, but it was comfortably blocked by the wall.
The breakthrough came in the 11th minute. Sidmouth’s Zack Williams was allowed too much space on the edge of the area and made Wellington pay, curling a precise effort into the far corner to give the hosts a deserved lead.
Wellington tried to respond with a speculative effort from Jacob Shore in the 21st minute, but it sailed harmlessly over the bar. Sidmouth, meanwhile, continued to threaten and might have doubled their advantage in the 26th minute, only to fire over after a swift break.
As the half wore on, Wellington found some joy down the flanks, with Oscar Albano and Nathan Byrne combining well in the 40th minute, but the final ball was lacking, and Sidmouth quickly turned defence into attack — although without further reward before the break.
The second half followed a similar pattern and, just seven minutes in, Sidmouth extended their lead as a corner was headed home at the back post by Cholwe Hachipuka.
Wellington struggled to mount a serious response, and the game was effectively over in the 72nd minute when another unmarked header from a corner, this time by Craig Veal, made it 3–0.
It was a deserved win for Sidmouth to continue their impressive start following promotion from the South West Peninsula League.
For the Tangerines, it was a frustrating evening and they will look to regroup quickly ahead of Saturday’s home clash against another of last season’s promoted sides, Newquay.
Wellington: Jack McAndrews, Jacob Shore, Tom Stone, Jake Haggerty, Nathan Byrne, Glen Wright, Cris Amponsah, Miles Quick, Alfie Slough, Josh Lukins, Oscar Albano. Substitutes: Jack Alcock and Daniel Conway (used); Josh Baker, Harry Chetland, Ryan Brereton (not used).
