Somerset Senior Cup second round: Brislington Reserves 0, Wellington Reserves 2
Our Reserves had another away day in the Senior Somerset Cup and another trip to Bristol – this time taking on Brislington Reserves.
With a delayed kick off time due to congestion on the motorway, manager Mark Owen only had 15 minutes with his team prior to the start.
Man-of-the-match Aaron Hawkings is pictured with kit man Adrian Ridgeway.
On a heavy pitch, both teams struggled to create any real openings in the first 15 minutes.
Wellington started to grow into the game and began to create chances, but some poor finishing and some fines saves from the Brislington keeper kept the game at 0-0.
Tom Hawkings was unlucky not to open the scoring when he rose above everyone in the box to smash his header against the bar before it was cleared by the home defence.
It would not be long before the deadlock was broken and, after 35 minutes, Ben Evett ran on to a forward pass and headed the ball past the defender. As he ran towards the goalline, he cut back the ball for the on running Wes Poulsom to tap home and make it 1-0 to Wellington.
The Reserves should have increased the lead on the stroke of half-time when the ball dropped to Connor Noble inside the six yard box but he somehow managed to knock it over the bar.
The second half started well for Wellington as they held the ball a lot better and kept probing , but again they found the home keeper in fine form, notably with an outstanding save from another Tom Hawkings header.
At the back, Wellington dealt well with the home team’s front line with Owen, Tom Davies, Noble, Dylan Groves and Ned Oglivie, as a second half sub, all outstanding.
With the game still only 1-0, the next goal was always going to be vital, and Wellington had a great opportunity to double the lead when they were awarded a penalty. Up stepped Luke Perry who hit a fine low spot kick to the left, only to see the keeper get his hand to it and push it wide.
Wellington did not let this disappointment get to them and kept pushing.
With the clock on 80 minutes, they scored the second goal they needed. A fine move down the left saw the ball knocked to the back post and Ben Evett, running in, hit it back into the box for sub Jim Beatty to hit it past the keeper from close range.
All the lads needed to do was see the game out and they did this with ease as a great all-round performance saw them progress to the next round.
Wellington: Charlie Hawkings, Mark Owen, Tom Davies, Connor Noble, Dylan Groves, Wes Poulsom, Aaron Hawkings, Sam Poole, Ben Evett, Tom Hawkings, Freddie Margetts. Substitutes: Lewis Oaten, James Beatty, Ned Ogilvie, Luke Perry, Oliver Southcott (all used).
