Winning cup run comes to an end!

Wells City Reserves lined up in this cup game with an under strength side for the first time this year.

With the promotion to the first team for Zach Hall and Charlie Crook, Ryan Pledger away and the loss of Ryan Crowther through a severe knee ligament injury some of the regular attacking options were not available for the home side.
A frantic start to the game as both teams tried to gain control of possession especially with some battling head to heads in midfield. It was the away side who settled first to create a chance for the dangerous and Stefan Lee who broke through the Wells defence to strike a clean shot on Mike Ropers goal, but a great save prevented Stockwood taking the lead.

Minutes later though Roper was helpless after a break down the left wing saw a whipped cross to the near post swept in by Lee from 6 yards to give the away side a deserved 1-0 lead.
The home defence held strong with Ollie Bryant, Martyn Sheppard, Jordan Bazley and the Impressive James Basket keeping the away side predominately quite throughout the remainder of the first half with Basket winning the constant battle with Lee on many occasions.

Wells first opportunity of the half was provided by the lively Darren Maynard winning a free kick on the edge of the Wanderers box, Dave Holder saw his perfect dead ball strike fly just over the bar from 22 yards
Roper's goal was put under pressure as Lee managed to set up the attacking Danny Hunt and from 10 yards with Roper pulling off a point blank save to keep Well's in the tie.

Wells continued to press and were the better side in the first half as Holder, Dan Catley and making his first start of the season Dan Poore taking control of the midfield. The home side's passing ability broke through the away side's time after time without creating clear opportunities.
A fine move between Charlie Giles and Bryant set up Scott Hurley whose shot from the edge of the box seemed to creep under Collingwood in the Stockwood goal to force another corner.

Just before the break a chance fell for the home side to level it. With a great cross from the right from Catley, full back Jordan Bazley who found himself free in the centre of the goal, however he saw his glancing header go wide of the far post.

Half time 0-1

The home side came out of the blocks the quickest in the second half, forcing Stockwood back into defending mode and Wells leveled it on 47 minutes with perfect team goal.
Ollie Bryant won the ball on the left passing into Holder in midfield, after beating his man his deft pass wide found midfielder Poore free in the box and a perfect cross to the back post set up striker Maynard to finish it off bravely with a diving header from close range to make the score 1-1 continuing his run in front of goal.

Unfortunately this woke the away side and they immediately bounced back to take the lead again. Work through the midfield split the home defence and a sliding shot from Hunt from 12 yards to find the bottom corner of Ropers goal on 50 minutes to make it 2-1 to the away side.
The game continued to flow as both teams looked for the win in this round robin cup affair, with some half chances falling in the box, especially for Wells as Bryant and Bazley continued to join the attacking options but the home side were unable to capitalise.

The Introduction of Dan Barker for Bazley late on didn't see a change to the score line as Wells become more frustrated towards the end of the game giving away numerous free kicks and bookings.
Stockwood slowed the game down to hold out for a win and put an end to the home sides 10 game unbeaten start to season.

Man of the Match: James Phillips-Basket
Result: Wells City Reserves 1-2 Stockwood Wanderers