WELLINGTON RESERVES 6

WESTEXE PARK 1

THE Reserves made it three wins from three games with this big victory in Division One West of the Devon and Exeter League last Saturday.

As with the previous two games, Wellington came out with high tempo and were ahead after only five minutes. Good work down the left saw Liam Thorne release Josh Baker, who drove in a low cross. This was met first time by the incoming Wes Poulsom for the opener.

But Westexe came back immediately and some neat football saw them set their striker clear on goal. Luckily for Wellington his shot smacked the crossbar.

Wellington increased their lead on 25 minutes. A smart quick free kick on the right hand side of the halfway line released Wes Poulsom. He carried the ball to the edge of the area before firing in a low cross to the back post for the ever willing Thorne to smash home.

Wellington were now in the ascendancy and creating chances at regular intervals. They stretched their lead through Brad Holmans in the 35th minute. Good passing down the right led to Rohan Poulsom squaring his pass for a precise first time finish.

In between the second and third goal Keeper Rob hall was called upon to foil another one on one and just before half time saved a well driven free kick after another bit of sloppy defending.

The second half was equally as entertaining as the first. As Welly got into gear again, they soon started to exert their dominance. Chances were being created and it was soon 4-0. Rohan Poulsom got himself a deserved goal, holding off players in the box before driving home from 12 yards on 58 minutes. The returning Aaron Hawkings replaced veteran Matt Holmes on 60 minutes but disappointingly they let their standards slip in the 75th minute and a defensive error let in a Westexe player to leave Rob Hall with no chance.

But Welly finished with a flourish. Jake Nicholl replaced the injured Thorne in the 75th minute and in the 78th minute saw the long awaited reintroduction of comeback striker Luke Perry. The natural finisher took no time in getting back to doing what he does best. With 80 minutes on the clock and only two minutes into his return he instinctively smashed in Welly’s fifth from eight yards.

One minute later he was at it again, Nicholls’ low left wing cross was met by Perry who drove a first time shot into the net – only for it to chalked off for offside. But it mattered not. Only two minutes later Perry got his second and Welly’s sixth.

The players and staff would like to thank Richard Johnson and Leon Sprague of Monument Building Services for being our match ball sponsor. They would also like to thank those who joined them in their minute’s applause before the game in memory of regular supporter Jules Westcott who sadly died recently.

Sean Buttle