Cup win caps a brilliant season

Wells City Reserves created another piece of history with victory in the Second Division Cup Final.

Following a mediocre first- half display from both sides, Wells City Reserves upped the tempo after the break to win the Somerset County League Division 2 Cup final.

It was a deserved trophy for the team, who have worked hard this season and finished as runners-up in the league and the Somerset Senior Cup before putting the icing on the cake.

The management team of Julian Coppell, Barry Maynard and Mark Phipps have been instrumental in taking the side to another level with a group of local youngsters who all have the ability to go on improving.

The first half was largely forgettable as neither side looked good enough to get a foot on the ball and chances were kept to a minimum.

Olly Bryant was Wells’ saviour early in the game as he cleared a Harry Neil shot off the line but otherwise the well-organised City defence looked untroubled.

Wells were disappointing in front of goal, although Steve Emery did go close with a hooked shot from a Ryan Morris corner midway through the opening half.

The start of the second period saw Wells make three quick substitutions and became increasingly dominant but Sutton almost took the lead against the run of play when a Sam Downes’ shot on the turn looked goalbound but Mike Roper at full stretch brought off a brilliant save.

The game saw a dramatic change on the hour mark when Sutton defender Jack Neil was sent off by referee Kieron Salmons for kicking out, which looked like the correct decision despite protests from the team.

The extra man immediately turned the game in favour of Wells as Bryant and Keiron White both struck the woodwork in the space of a minute.

The opening goal came on 68 minutes when a brilliant Darren Maynard run and cross was headed powerfully home by Ryan Crowther.

Within six minutes they had doubled their advantage when a Crowther free-kick to the back post was headed home in similar fashion by Ross Padfield, meaning all three substitutes were involved in the opening two goals.

Wells put the game out of the reach of their opponents on 89 minutes when Dan Catley’s free-kick got a wicked deflection to wrong-foot Chris Blammon in the Sutton goal and find the back of the net.

To rub the salt into the wound, City added a fourth when White was left in the clear and, although his shot was blocked by Blammon, Charlie Crook followed up to score from a tight angle.