Wells rue missed chances

Wells City were left kicking themselves after allowing Ashton & Backwell to get back into the game on two occasions as they ended up with a point apiece to stay in mid-table in the Toolstation Western League First Division.

The visitors were the dominant side for the most part, but their habit of letting leads slip reared its head once again and it is quickly becoming a concern for manager Mark Read.

City made a dream start as James Batchelor, who was one of seven Wells players to have played for Ashton & Backwell, got in behind the home side's defence to slot the ball wide of the keeper from 12 yards out after just two minutes.

The visitors then felt harshly done by moments when Batchelor looked to have doubled his side's advantage by finding the far corner of the net once again following a good pass from Jake Brown, only for the goal to be ruled out by a late flag for offside.

Olly Bryant was then denied as he followed up on a Lewis Coombes fumble from a Lee Pitman effort, before City had further opportunities to increase their advantage.

Brown produced a moment of individual brilliance by setting up Batchelor from the byline, but on this occasion Batchelor side footed his effort wide of the target from just 10 yards out.

Pitman was also denied what might have been a contender for goal of the season as his flighted effort from out wide on the halfway line held up in the wind before coming back off the crossbar to Nathan Rendell, who made a hash of his header, placing the ball straight into the arms of Coombes from just three yards out.

Scott Saunders then struck the Ashton & Backwell crossbar moments later with a decent effort, but for all their dominance, a one -goal lead was always looking slender for Wells and so it proved just five minutes before the break.

The home side would have been happy to go in just the one goal behind, but they were thrown a lifeline when Ross Higginson was brought down by Mike Grist and Ryan Couch lifted the spot kick perfectly into the roof of the net.

Things could have got even worse for the visitors on the stroke of half-time as Higginson waltzed past three tackles before guiding the ball past Will Justin, but Olly Bryant made a superb goalline clearance after tracking back.

Wells should have regained the lead early in the second half as a Batchelor cross was fumbled by Coombes, but once again with an empty net gaping, Rendell prodded his effort wide from three yards.

Brown then had a shot saved by the legs of Coombes, before City were awarded their own penalty on 70 minutes as Jake Brown was hauled down by Billy Devoy.

Pitman's spot kick however was brilliantly saved by Coombes, but with the ball not being cleared Aaron Allen made space on the right hand side of the penalty area to guide the ball into the far corner of the net from 14 yards out.

However, Wells failed to hold on and Ashton & Backwell got back on level terms for a second time on 77 minutes when a Connor Biggins' corner was headed home by Adam Crooks.

Assistant manager Paul Jones said after the game: "I thought we were comfortably the better side, created a lot of chances, especially in the first half, but our big problem is, we are not clinical enough.

"We have to be disappointed on how we are defending as well, especially the second goal, we had a warning just before, we didn't learn from that and got punished a couple of minutes later.

"Overall I thought we were the better side, but we need to put away our chances a bit better and concentrate more from any set pieces."

Wells City are at home on Saturday as they entertain bottom of the table Bishop Sutton.

Merv's merit marks: W Justin 6, S Saunders 6, O BRYANT 8, J Price 7, M Grist 8, S Sokol 6, J Batchelor 7, A Allen 7, N Rendell 5, L Pitman 6, J Brown 7,

Referee: Jack Bonnick 9

Entertainment value: 8