Reserves scrape a win at unbeaten Staplegrove

Wells travelled to unbeaten Staplegrove looking for their first win of the season, and although the 3 points were gained they could quite easily have come away with nothing after throwing away a 3-0 lead.
The game started brightly for both sides but all the play was in midfield. Wells played some nice neat football with Dan Catley, Ryan Morris and particularly Ben Bushell linking up play. Wells’ first real chance when a deep cross from Steve Emery on the right was met on the volley by the advancing Ryan Crowther but his shot went wide of the upright. 4 minutes later Kieran Padfield made some space and got a shot at goal but it went straight at the keeper. On 30 minutes, Padfield had another chance when Crother went on a mazy run and squared the ball but Padfields shot was weak and he pulled it wide. Wells finally got the break through on 40 minutes when a Catley corner eluded everyone and hit a defenders shin and nestled in the back of the net. 2 minutes later Wells made it 2-0 when a defence splitting pass from Bushell was latched onto by Padfied who hit his shot low to the keepers right. Wells still had time for another chance when a Morris cross field ball was hit back across by Emery and was met by Scott Hurley who headed wide.
The second half began with Staplegrove changing their formation and played with 3 upfront. On 47 minutes debutant George Voicu in the Wells goal made a good save front a direct free kick. Wells then had to shuffle things about when Ryan Morris suffered a blow to the head and was unable to continue, Pete Vowles replaced him and Wells reverted to 4-4-2. Within 3 minutes Wells had scored their third, when Hurley picked up a loose ball in midfield and turned and bent a shot from 20 yards which sailed over the keeper. At this point the result looked a certainty but Staplegrove had other ideas and this wasn’t helped when an wayward cross from the Grove winger was somehow fumbled into the net by Voicu. This spurred Grove on and 2 minutes later a run by the Grove number 11 wasn’t dealt with, firstly by Joe Grant , then Dan Barker and as he cut into the box he was upended by Vowles to concede a penalty, which was duly despatched. Wells then made a second change, bringing on Fabio Ramos for Padfield. Staplegrove were now pushing for the equaliser and gaps were opening in their defence. Hurley missed a guilt edged chance when one on one with the keeper, as his shot squirmed agonisingly wide. Vociu then made up for his earlier error by making 2 excellent saves late on to deny Staplegrove.
Man of the match – Ben Bushell
After the game Assistant Manager Barry Maynard said, “Thankfully we got the 3 points but we went from the sublime to the ridiculous, at 3-0 up it was not if we win but by how many and then we self-destruct with some woeful defending and at times very basic errors. We need to learn from this this and take the positives into next week’s game”