WELLINGTON Reserves bounced back from the previous week’s poor away result with a thumping 7-1 home victory over a Sidmouth team lying just above them in the Premier Division of the Stitch2Print Devon & Exeter League

With the game passing an early pitch inspection, manager Mark Owen welcomed back some key players and could not have asked for a better start as they raced into a 3-0 lead in the opening 25 minutes.

The first came after ten minutes when Ollie Nott received the ball just outside the box and, from a central position, hit a fine shot past the keeper. Five minutes later, Wellington had a second as Sam Bryant met a corner to head home and then Wellington hit a third through a superb 20-yard curling shot by Jack Bryant which gave the keeper no chance.

Wellington had been excellent throughout the first half in difficult conditions and Ben Evett scored two goals in two minutes to give them a deserved 5-0 half time lead.

The second half started with the weather conditions getting worse and with both teams struggling to control the ball.

After 55 minutes the visitors pulled a goal back after a corner was not cleared and the ball was knocked in from close range. Owen then decided to make a couple of changes to rest some of the lads and, as the game moved into its final stages, Wellington scored a further two goals with Jack Bryant getting a second and Ben Evett completing his hat-trick, racing clear and rounding the keeper to score.

It was a excellent day in difficult conditions and a great team performance.

Team: Charlie Hawkings, Wes Poulsom, Harry Chetland, Connor Pengelly, Sam Bryant, Charlie Wood, Ollie Nott, Ollie Ackland, Jack Bryant, Alfie Barratt, Ben Evett. Substitutes: Luke Perry, Mark Owen, Sam Poole, Elijah Hillier (used); James Beatty (not used).