Chipping Sodbury Town 3
Wellington AFC 1
11th Jan 2020 Toolstation Western League Premier Division
The Sods struggled with the conditions playing into a strong wind in the first half and creating just a couple of half chances, however they were resolute in defence and managed to frustrate their visitors for much of the half. Wellington used the wind to good effect and dominated possession and when Sodbury failed to clear a cross from the left Harry Hamblin was on hand to slot home from inside the penalty area with a low shot on 23 minutes.
As the half progressed Wellington began to rely on the long throw-in, which initially caused panic in the home defence, but they overused the tactic and the predictability allowed the Sods to clear the danger with relative ease. Archie Watts was in fine form between the posts and in difficult conditions he cleared his lines on numerous occasions restricting the visitors to a slender 0-1 lead at the break.
The second half began with Wellington on the offensive, clearly aware that the conditions would play a major part as the game progressed. The Sods weathered the storm, using the wind at their backs to great advantage and they dominated the final 35 minutes. They levelled through Luke Burman on 65 minutes when he struck from the edge of the area following a period of intense Sodbury pressure.
Dan Brown, on as a second half substitute struck the cross bar just three minutes after the equaliser with a 25 yard effort that left the keeper grasping at thin air. Brown’s introduction from the bench had a positive impact and just four minutes later he rose above the Wellington keeper at a corner with the resultant loose ball falling to Jack Moore who fired home to give Sodbury the lead.
The home defence had a quiet second half but dealt with any threat comfortably reducing their visitors to a couple of half chances. Wellington were unable to cope with Sodbury’s passing and energy levels and with just five minutes left Jack Parker added a third goal for the hosts. Parker was sent clear with a precise clipped pass into the penalty area where he found himself one on one with the keeper calmly passing the ball into the corner of the net.
Match Report – Mark Lloyd
