Defeated by last gasp winner

Saturday saw a youthful Wells City squad travel to Radstock A looking to get back to winning ways after two consecutive defeats. However, even with a much improved performance, Wells found themselves narrowly defeated by a last gasp winner, in very difficult conditions for both teams.

Wells started the game brightly, and started creating chances right from the outset something which in the previous two defeats, Wells had struggled to do. Rob Turner had the 1st opening of the game, as his header hit the inside of the post after an excellent delivery from Matt Davidson. Kieron White also had a headed chance from another Davidson corner, but from 5 yards out, his effort sailed over the cross bar. 10 minutes later Mike Barnett wriggled past two defenders and shot low to the bottom right hand corner, completely wrong footing the keeper but his effort went agonisingly wide. The longer the game remained goal less; Radstock came into the contest and pushed Wells back into their half. 5 minutes before half time, Wells were punished for the wastefulness in front of the Radstock goal, as Radstock took the lead. A free kick wide from the left, was headed in by an unmarked forward at the front post.

After a stern talking to at half time, Wells came out and immediately conceded a second goal thanks for the windy conditions, as a cross from the Radstock left winger looped over the returning Ben Green in goal. Being two nil down, Wells management made two changes immediately, bring on Aiden Ellis and Edward Jackson for their debuts. Both graduates from the impressive under 18 side and both got involved straight away. This change gave wells renewed energy and halved the deficit minutes later as Jackson found White, who unleashed an unstoppable effort from 30 yards out to give the keeper no chance. At 2-1 Wells looked to be gaining momentum, so when Radstock scored a third straight from an in swinging corner, the game looked to be getting away from them. At 3-1 down, to their credit Wells dusted themselves down and pushed forward in search of getting something from the game. On 75 minutes, turner made up for his missed chance in the 1st half as he bundled in from close range, and just 5 minutes later debutant Jackson scored his 1st of many senior goals to come and he tapped in at the far post, after good work from Ellis and midfielder Nick Beales. 3-3 with 10 minutes to go wells went all out to try and win the game, leaving the back door open. With 2 minutes of the contest left, Radstock broke down the middle. An on rushing Midfielder committed 2 wells defenders. His through ball, to the disbelief of the Wells supporters, the centre forward was allowed to latch on to the pass, compose himself and finished neatly at the near post. Final score 4-3.

After the game a frustrated Ryan Morris stated ‘it was a rollercoaster of a game, whereby the conditions played a massive part in 2 of the goals we conceded today. However to get ourselves back into the game after being 3-1 down, there was only one team that was going to go on a win it. The winning Radstock goal is so avoidable and unforgiveable especially in the circumstances. The players need to start taking responsibility in key areas to start turning good performances, into wins. I seem to be having the same team talks for the past three games now, and its beginning to get frustrating. I do believe however that this group is a lot better from the A team of last season and we will turn this around.’

Morris went on the compliment the youngsters who made their debuts today by stating ‘we’ve found two very good players in Ellis and Jackson, both of whom have a big future within the club. It’s always nice to see lads from the under 18s taking the plunge and joining up with the senior squads and alongside Matt Davidson, we have 3 who won’t be at this level for long. We are already talking to 2 more lads who will be involved in the next game against Westfield on the 28th, and hopefully a few more will decide to give it a go especially as the reserve team management are willing to give these lads a go too.