Out of the Cup but not disgraced

 Wellington 0 Bath City 4

WELLINGTON bowed out of the Somerset Premier Cup after defeat by Bath City of the Blue Square Conference South at the Playing Field on Wendesday night. But Jamie Ward’s side could hold their heads high after a performance against a team four divisions above them which yielded far more positive factors than negative.

Wellington got off to the worst possible start by falling behind inside the first minute as a long-range shot by tricky winger Kerry Morgan bounced past unsighted keeper Paul Gibbins.

The home side then matched the visitors for the next 40 minutes with skipper Leon Taswell volleying across the face of goal and midfielder Max Westlake shooting wide from a good position.

But Bath increased their lead just before the break as a cross from the right was knocked down for Brad Norris to volley home with the help of a deflection.

Ward’s starting line-up included new signing Martin White, after the defender re-joined the club, and he introduced two more at the interval – central defender Ed Weeks and midfielder Joe Chamberlain – with a fourth – striker Jamie Dingle – joining the fray ten minutes later.

Bath virtually wrapped up their victory on the hour when Sam Babatunde headed home a cross and they completed the scoring nine minutes from time with an exquisite chip by Morgan.

Wellington did get the ball in the net in the closing minutes but a looping header by Weeks was ruled out for a push on keeper Jason Mellor.

Wellington: Paul Gibbins, Nick Ford, Scott Holland, Martin White, Jack Adams, Max Westlake, Andy Butler, Mark Clunie, Darren Rice, Leon Taswell, Luke Redrup. Substitutes: Joe Chamberlain, Ed Weeks and Jamie Dingle (used);