Stitch2Print Devon & Exeter League premier division: Wellington Reserves 3, Winkleigh 3

Our Reserves stretched their unbeaten run to seven games with a six-goal thriller against Winkleigh yesterday (Saturday, April 25th).

Jack Bryant was player of the match and he is pictured with Alan and Brett Perry of Ecoprotex, who sponsored the game.

It was second v fourth for the final game of the season at the Carly Press Ground, played in lovely weather before a bumper crowd.

The deadlock was broken on 30 minutes when youngster Ollie Ackland picked the ball up on the right and drove into the box. He pulled the ball back to Jack Bryant who hit a low first-time shot past the keeper to put Wellington ahead.

With the game approaching half-time, Winkleigh found an equaliser just before the break.

They broke down the right and crossed the bar to the far post, where it was knocked back and played back across the box to an unmarked player who scored despite a valiant effort by keeper Charlie Hawkings.

Wellington re-took the lead early in the 2nd half as the away team tried to clear the ball, but it hit a defender and bounced into the net for an own goal.

The lead was shortlived as the visitors found a second equaliser. Again, Wellington failed to clear a cross and the ball was hit home low from ten yards past Hawkings.

With 15 minutes to go, Winkleigh took the lead for the first time when the lofted as free kick into the box and a header looped over Hawkings into the net.

Five minutes later, the visitors had a player sent off for a second yellow and, as the game entered injury-time, Wellington found an equaliser as Sam Bryant met a corner with a fine header to beat the keeper.

A draw was a fair result although it meant second-placed Wellington are unable to catch leaders Upottery with one game remaining – away to University of Exeter 2nds next Saturday.

Team: Charlie Hawkings, Connor Noble, Dylan Groves, Sam Bryant, Tom Davies, Ollie Ackland, Ben Evett, Connor Pengelly, Luke Perry, Jack Bryant, Tom Hawkings. Substitutes: Mark Owen, Jamie Fleet, Daniel Conway (all used).