Emirates FA Cup extra preliminary round: Willand Rovers 9, Wellington 0
Wellington AFC bowed out of the Emirates FA Cup with a comprehensive defeat at Willand Rovers today (Saturday).
After their 10-1 league defeat away to Buckland Athletic in midweek, it was another harrowing day for the re-vamped Tangerines who were no match for their Southern League opponents.
Willand took the lead after 14 minutes when Zack Williams ran at the Wellington defence before firing home an unstoppable shot.
Just three minutes later, Williams struck again, drilling the ball into the bottom corner to double the home side’s advantage.
Wellington threatened to reduce the deficit when Rohan Poulsom saw his effort deflected narrowly wide, but the hosts continued to look dangerous.
Young Wellington goalkeeper Harry Lawrence produced a superb point-blank save in the 37th minute to keep the score at 2-0.
However, there was nothing he could do two minutes later when, after Lawrence had saved again, Bailey Kempster followed up to fire home Willand’s third.
The home side were awarded a penalty in the 41st minute and Kempster made no mistake from the spot to complete a miserable first half for the visitors who trailed 4-0.
Willand added a fifth shortly after the restart when a low cross took a wicked deflection and looped into the Wellington net for an unfortunate own goal.
The Tangerines continued to look for a consolation goal and Ollie Ackland fired into the side netting following a quick break in the 61st minute.
But Willand were soon back on the attack and Kempster completed his hat-trick in the 68th minute, making room for himself before finding the bottom corner with a low shot.
The home side added another just a minute later when substitute Harvey Dorothy fired home against his former club.
Sol Ayunga headed home a cross from the left with ten minutes remaining to make it eight, before Dorothy pounced on some indecision in the Wellington defence five minutes from time to lift the ball home for his second of the afternoon.
The final whistle brought an afternoon to forget for Wellington, who were beaten by a Willand side who proved far too strong.
More cup action next Saturday as the Tangerines travel to Ilminster Town of the South West Peninsula League in the first round qualifying of the FA Vase.
Wellington: Harry Lawrence, Connor Noble, Vince Innis, Connor Pengelly, Nat Hawkins, Gabriel Plant, Harvey Conroy, Luca Staniforth, Rohan Poulsom, Ollie Ackland, Luke Perry. Substitutes: Ned Ogilvie, Reegan Scotcher, Danny Wordsworth (used); Harry Chetland (not used).
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