TWO of Wellington’s best players have turned down a possible opportunity to join a rival Toolstation League Premier Division club.

Josh Wadham, who netted both goals in Wellington’s surprise 2-0 away victory over Bradford Town on Saturday, and Conor Bryant, have both told manager Clive Jones they are happy at the club and want to stay.

“I told both players last week that I didn’t want them to go,” said Jones. “They are both very good players and it would have been a blow if they had left.”

Bridport had put in seven days notice of approach for Wadham while Bryant had become a target for Buckland Athletic.

Wellington fielded an understrength side at Bradford and Jones, who was without five recognised first teamers, was naturally delighted with their display.

“It was one of the best performances since I’ve been at Wellington,” he added. “We didn’t win an away game all last season so we’ve got that monkey off our backs already.”

“We had two youngsters on the bench, Lewis Pocock and Rowan Poulsom, and I brought them both on. They both looked good for ones so young. I have never managed such a young side.”

“With players unavailable coming back on Saturday I now face a real headache with selection for our match at Hallen. But it’s a very nice headache.”

Hallen won 4-0 away to Hengrove Athletic over the weekend but their opponents were missing almost an entire team through suspensions, unavailability and injuries.

Wellington Reserves, whose side is full of young players, are home to University of Exeter 2nds who have yet to play a match in Division One of the Devon and Exeter League. The game is being played on the club’s main pitch at the Playing Field (3,00).

Wellington A, who lost a thriller 6-5 to Staplegrove Crusaders  on Saturday, are home to Porlock Reserves in the third division of the Invest Southwest Taunton Saturday League.