JACK Porter, a regular at left-back for Wellington in the Toolstation League, has played his last game this season.

Porter is in the RAF at Chinnor and will be on duty for the next four months.

“It’s a big blow for us,” said Wellington boss Clive Jones yesterday. “He’s a manager’s dream. He’s already told me he wants to play for us next season.

“He comes down from Brize Norton for every game and as you know we don’t pay players. I don’t know how much it costs him but it must be a lot of money.

“It is one of the reasons I am looking for two defenders. We are very thin on the ground at the moment.”

Skipper Sam Bryant, who has not played a league game this season, has undergone knee surgery and will be out for nine months.

“He has felt good since the operation but he has an awful lot of work to do before he gets anywhere near fit,” said Jones.

“Olly Nott is also likely to miss the rest of the season with a medical problem.”

Midfielder Sam Towler will be sidelined for another month following an accident in Bournemouth while on a ‘boys’ night out” in November. He has seen a specialist about head and knee injuries and has been referred back to his own doctor.

The head injury is of more concern than the knee. 

Wellington, who still top the first division of the Toolstation League following their 4-1 win over Bishops Lydeard on Boxing Day, have no match this Saturday.

Their next game is on Saturday, January 7, when they play at home to Bishop Sutton who were the last Toolstation League side to beat them. They gained a surprise 1-0 win against Wellington in the FA Vase at the Playing Field early in September.

“I welcome the break – it gives players a chance to get over a few niggles and bumps,” added Jones who is in his second season in charge.

“We’ve got to concentrate on the season ahead. We’ve got 17 league games left and everything to play for.

“We’ve had a good first half of the season but there’s still plenty of work to be done.

“Obviously the strength of the first team squad is of concern and I have spoken to a couple of players without success. But I will get in a couple of players.”