Western League premier division: Ilfracombe Town 1, Wellington 2
Quickfire goals from brothers Jake and Miles Quick saw Wellington come from behind to start their season with victory in sunny North Devon yesterday (Saturday, July 27th).
It was an entertaining game which could have gone either way but the Tangerines returned home with the points.
Boss Richard Cherry named two new signings in the starting 11 – both from Axminster Town – with striker Jake Quick having rejoined the club and Sam Sheldrake in midfield.
The match began with high intensity as Jake unleashed a dangerous free kick which was expertly tipped over by Ilfracombe keeper Adam Chamberlain.
Tom Burt then tested the keeper with a shot of his own, but Chamberlain stood firm to keep the scoreline at 0-0.
As the first half progressed, Ryan Hibbert had an anxious moment as he inadvertently headed the ball against his own crossbar while trying to clear a threatening cross.
At the other end, visiting skipper Kieran Bailey saw a goalbound shot deflected wide and Wellington keeper Jake Viney then produced a great save to deny the home team from opening the scoring.
The breakthrough finally came in the 36th minute when Billy Tucker, a new signing from Barnstaple Town, capitalised on a defensive lapse in concentration and drove the ball low past Viney to give Ilfracombe the lead heading into half-time.
The second half saw Wellington come out with renewed vigour, and they were rewarded in the 66th minute when Josh Lukins delivered a pinpoint cross to Jake Quick, who headed home with the ball squeezing under Chamberlain and over the line.
Just two minutes later, his brother Miles drove home a stunning goal from fully 30 yards out to put Wellington ahead.
Despite a disallowed ‘goal’ for offside, Ilfracombe continued to push for an equaliser, but Viney’s heroic saves kept them at bay.
Wellington’s defence held firm, with Jordan Hayman making a crucial last-gasp tackle to preserve their lead.
In the end, the Tangerines emerged victorious and their comeback victory sets them up nicely for the trip to Nailsea and Tickenham on Tuesday night.
Wellington: Jake Viney, Ryan Hibbert, Kieran Bailey, Jordan Hayman, Alex Cherry, Tom Burt, Sam Sheldrake, Glen Wright, Josh Lukins, Miles Quick, Jake Quick. Substitutes: Josh Young, Harry Scott, Mark Cornish, Danny Wordsworth (used); Rob Hall (not used).
Photos courtesy of the Around Wellington news and sport website.
