Isuzu FA Vase first round qualifying: Ilminster Town 1, Wellington 0
A solitary second half goal saw Wellington AFC’s young side knocked out of the Vase at Ilminster Town yesterday (Saturday).
Going into the tie on the back of 10-1 and 9-0 defeats, it was a much closer game but the Tangerines were left still looking for their first win of the season.
Ilminster, who play below them in the South West Peninsula League, had won both of their games so far and edged a tight contest.
The first chance did not arrive until the 33rd minute as Taylor Jefferson headed over for the hosts from a good position.
Wellington could then have gone ahead just before the break when skipper Josh Baker – their only remaining senior player from last season – was denied by a fine block for former Tangerines keeper Shay Allen.
It was Ilminster who made what proved to be the decisive breakthrough six minutes into the second half.
Josh Phillips got in behind the defence and drilled a low shot across keeper Harry Lawrence.
It was nearly 2-0 after 77 minutes but Connor Noble produced a great clearance and young Lawrence pulled off a superb reaction save from the resulting corner.
Wellington threw men forward in search of an equaliser and went close twice in injury time as a corner by Vinnie Wright-Harper Innis hit the top of the bar and then Allen saved well from substitute Isaac Baker, another 17-year-old in the squad.
They return to league action with a challenging trip to Portishead Town on Tuesday night.
Wellington: Harry Lawrence, Connor Noble, Vinnie Wright-Harper Innis, Connor Pengelly, Jordan Ford, Sam Poole, Rohan Poulsom, Luca Staniforth, Josh Baker, Ollie Ackland, Harvey Conroy. Substitutes: Gabriel Plant, Nat Hawkins, Lewis Oaten, Sam Sharif, Isaac Baker (all used).
***
Around Wellington Sport is sponsored by Tone Gate Motors – visit their website by CLICKING HERE