Padfield hat-trick secures win

A Ross Padfield hat-trick saw Wells City beat Warminster Town 3-2 at the weekend, with his winner coming with only two minutes to go.

Wells started really well and on four minutes Harvey Hadrill produced some smart wide play and his delicious ball into the box was cleared at the back post before Harry Foster could get a finishing touch.

After six minutes, a quick Warminster counter attack saw the Warminster forward drag his shot well wide of the goal from a tight angle.

Hadrill produced another sumptuous cross after 10 minutes, this time met at the near post by Padfield and his glancing header found its way into the bottom corner to give Wells the lead.

On 21 minutes, a 60-yard searching through-ball by Ben Amghar set Foster free but he slashed his effort wide when one on one with the keeper.

After 23 minutes, a Herrod corner found Foster at the back post unmarked but his volley was fired into the ground and it bounced safely over the bar.

A pin point cross from the right side by Charlie Crook on 38 minutes was met by the head of Herrod but was well saved at the far post.

On 41 minutes and out of nowhere, an Alex Camm effort from 25 yards rocketed into the side netting.

As half time approached, a Warminster free kick wasn't cleared properly and the Warminster captain did well to shift the ball on to his right foot from 12 yards out and he brought an outstanding save from Kieran Hodges to deny him. At half time the score remained 1-0 to Wells.

Wells were out of the blocks quickly in the second half as another Herrod corner was met with a diving header by Padfield but this time he put it narrowly wide.

On 53 minutes, Ben Robertson did well to win the ball back and had the quick thinking to free Foster but he saw his shot go wide.

After 55 minutes, quality link up play between Crook and Hadrill on the right side saw Crook deliver a brilliant ball to the back post which found Foster but his header landed on the roof of the net.

At this stage Wells had so much dominance and some glorious chances, they should have been out of sight.

However, on 62 minutes a hopeful lofted ball into the box was not defended by Wells and a late run from the Warminster midfielder saw him arrived unmarked and from around eight yards he got the faintest of touches to divert the ball into the far corner of the goal to level things up.

Wells were back in front on 75 minutes when a Herrod free kick from the right was glanced on by Foster and that man again Padfield found himself in the right place at the right time to prod the ball in from six yards.

City came close to extending their lead on 78 minutes when a delicious switch from Hadrill was taken well by Foster but his snapshot from 18 yards was brilliantly saved.

Warminster thought they had snatched a point on 85 minutes when some great wide play saw a fizzed cross into the Wells box and the striker got the wrong side of the Wells defence and finished with a very tidy header into the far corner.

However, Wells showed their character and deservedly got the winning goal in the 88th minute when an unbelievable ball into the box from Mark Randall was met by the man of the moment and man of the match Padfield, and his looping header found its way into the top corner to give Wells the three points.

The scoreline suggests the match was tighter than what it should have been, and had Wells taken their chances early in the second half then they would have been out of sight.

Credit where credit's due, though, as Warminster fought to the end and pushed Wells hard but City were worthy winners on the day.