WELLINGTON Reserves had to dig deep to earn a point in a 2-2 away draw against Clyst Valley in the Premier Division of the Devon & Exeter League. Wellington made the better start to the game and, on 25 minutes, they took the lead through a penalty, awarded when Ollie Ackland was fouled racing into the box, with Ben Evett striking the spot-kick low into the corner of the net.

With Wellington now in control and the home team creating very little, it was not long before they took a 2-0 lead. Evett received the ball on the the edge of the area and hit a low shot past the keeper.

With the game approaching half-time it was turned on its head when Wellington keeper Charlie Hawkings was shown a red card. Hawkings had raced out his area to clear and, as the Clyst forward got to the ball first, it flew up and hit his shoulder.

With a Wellington defender then clearing the ball, the referee judged the keeper had made a forward movement with his arm and made the decision to send him off.

Defender Connor Noble took over the gloves and Wellington just had to see out the last five minutes but, in injury time, Clyst pulled a goal back with a suspicion of offside as their forward raced clear to slot the ball past Noble.

Wellington started the second half with Tom Davies coming on to play at right-back and Jack Bryant having to play a lone striker role. Clyst started to create the better chances but the Wellington defence, led by Sam Bryant and Connor Pengelly, held firm and protected the 2-1 lead.

However, with ten minutes remaining, the home team found an equaliser when a player turned on the edge of the box and hit a low shot which crept past the diving Noble.