Unbeaten run ends against Hengrove

Wells City's magnificent unbeaten run came to an end on Tuesday evening as they were beaten 2-1 at home by Hengrove Athletic.

It was not the result Wells City needed as they looked to put more pressure on the league leaders Chipping Sodbury, but despite the defeat - their first since December - Wells City remain very much in the promotion mix.

The opening goal of the game came on 10 minutes when Wells City shot stopper Will Justin got caught in no man's land as he came off his line, allowing Mark Fear to lift the ball delicately over the keeper and into the back of the Well's net.

The home side responded well and Leon Brittain had a shot saved low down by Tom Kington and Nathan Truckle had another effort headed off the line by Marcus Maggs.

Wells were almost punished for a second mistake as Lee Pitman's cross field pass was intercepted by James Dunn and with Justin appearing to handle outside the penalty area, Dunn was left fuming as the decision did not see Justin punished and his frustrations saw him quite rightly get booked by referee Jo Stimpson.

Olly Bryant then followed his team-mate into the book for showing his frustration for not getting a free-kick on the edge of the Hengrove penalty area, this after a defender was adjudged not to have handled in the penalty area.

From the resulting corner taken by Lee Pitman, James Batchelor moved to the near post, losing his marker at the same time, but his close range header went just wide.

Hengrove did double their lead in the final minute of the opening half as a wayward Steve Sokol cross field pass was easily intercepted by James Dunn who strode forward before slotting the ball wide of Justin's left hand to give Hengrove the two-goal lead at the half-time interval.

Batchelor then sent a decent effort on target early in the second half which Kington did well to hold, but it was the visitors who went close again on 54 minutes a Dunn backward header from a free kick drifting inches wide.

The introduction of the rested Jake Brown on the hour brought an instant reward as the striker latched onto a superb lofted pass from Dan Spill and, under pressure from Scott Lewis, was brought down inside the Hengrove penalty area.

Pitman's spot kick was brilliantly parried by Kington, but Leon Brittain was quickest to react as he sent a low drive into the far corner of the net.

Wells City thought they had earned themselves a point late in the game as a fine Brittain strike from 30 yards was brilliantly parried by Kington, but straight into the path of Nathan Rendell who slotted the ball home, only for the striker to see the goal ruled out for offside.

Merv's merit marks: W Justin 6, S Saunders 7, O Bryant 6, S Gerrish 6, M Grist 6, S Sokol 6, N Truckle 7, L BRITTAIN 8, J Batchelor 6, L Pitman 6, D Spill 6, Subs: A Allen 7, N Rendell 6, J Brown 7

Referee: Jo Stimpson 8

Entertainment value: 6