A Team hold unbeaten Coleford Athletic

This weekend saw the return to action for Wells City A team, after a 4 week break due the wet weather with the toughest test possible, away to the champions Coleford Athletic, who themselves have not dropped a point all season. In a typical post New Year fixture, the weather and the pitch made for a difficult afternoon for both sets of players, however credit must go to the Coleford grounds men who got the game on.

In freezing temperatures, Wells caught Coleford cold as immediately the blues went on the attack, with Midfielders Rob Turner and Arron Wickham going close early on. The deadlock was broken on 10 minutes as Wells’ electric start was awarded as a Wickham free kick caused chaos in the Coleford back line, which left player/manager Andrew Goswell with the easiest of finishes from a yard out. Minutes later it was 2, in almost identical fashion as another Wickham free kick was deflected onto the cross bar by an unfortunate Coleford defender, resulted in James Phillips-Basket, who had an eventful afternoon, tapping home. 5 minutes later, it could’ve been 3 with a brilliant Phillips-Basket diving header went narrowly wide. With the score at 0-2, Coleford came to life as they started getting their dangerous front three on the ball in the final third, but with the back four of Aidan Ellis, Bailey Waterhouse, Phillips-Basket and Brandon Lenarduzzi, along with the much improved Goal Keeper Bradley Phillips, Wells kept the hosts bay. However, on 35 minutes, Coleford was given the chance to half the deficit as the referee awarded a penalty to the home team, with the unfortunate Phillips-Basket was adjudged to have handled in the penalty area, without him knowing too much about it. The subsequent penalty was dispatched emphatically to leave the game finely balanced at the break.

The second half saw Coleford make a few personnel changes, and this seemed to galvanise them into action right from the off. The intense pressure that Wells were put under meant that everyone had to work really hard to stay in the game, with some terrific last ditch defending, brilliant saves and some poor finishing kept Wells' slim lead. It was no surprise therefore that Coleford did get their equaliser, albeit in unfortunate circumstances at a low cross from the right hand side hit the once again unfortunate Phillips-Basket to fall into the back of the net. Moments later the comeback was complete, as Coleford made it 3-2 with the winger bursting into the penalty to score. At 3-2 Coleford really turned on the style and should’ve extended the lead with 4 glorious chances to put the game to bed. But keeper Phillips produced a goal keeping master class, which neither he nor the Wells players will forget. This kept Wells in the game and with 2 minutes left on the watch, the away team was award a free kick wide on the right hand side. Wickham sent in the free kick into a dangerous area, which Turner met and headed powerfully into the bottom corner to grab a last gasp equaliser for the away team. Final score 3-3.

After the game, a delighted Ryan Morris stated that, ‘with a goal in the injury time, this draw, feels like a win.’
‘Before the game, if I was offered a draw, I without question would’ve taken it. So I am very pleased. However, if I was to be selfish and slightly critical, we did have 2 goal lead and we had chances to extend that lead and didn’t take them. The penalty in my opinion changed the game. I can see why it was given and I would’ve appealed for it for us, but it’s the classic cliché, on another day another referee doesn’t award a penalty for that.’
That said, Coleford hit us with everything in that second half and if it wasn’t from Bradley, we would’ve lost by a considerable margin. A man of the match display from him has given us a point and everyone should be grateful for that, as I can’t imagine Coleford dropping many more points this season.’