Wells travelled to Portishead looking to get their second win of the season. Following a free Saturday the week before and again taking a depleted side with only 1 sub on the bench, Wells looked very rusty from start to finish. They failed to do the basics and could have quite easily conceded a 2 goal advantage and come away with only a point or worse still a defeat.
The first real chance of the game came in the 7th minute when a trademark Joe Grant long throw was met by the head of Steve Emery, who could only direct the ball over the bar from 6 yards. Ryan Morris then had a chance to open the scoring, following a lay off from Ryan Crowther but the midfielders’ shot went high and wide. Minutes later Crowther himself had a chance when Scott Hurley went on a run and his cross was met by the advancing Crowther, whose shot was well saved by the Portishead keeper. Portishead then had chances due to slack marking in the Wells defence. Mike Roper was called on more than once to bail his defence out. On one occasion Roper was lucky not to sustain a serious injury when he came for a ball on the edge of the box and the Portishead striker turn and backed into him sending Roper summer salting into the air. Luckily for the Wells custodian he was only winded. Wells continued to create half chances, with efforts from Hurley, Kieran Padfield and Dan Poore but they all seemed to lack that clinical finish.
Following a stern talking to at half time, Wells came out for the second half hoping to put the poor first half behind them and kill off the game. Within 8 minutes Wells took the lead, when a Dan Catley free kick was finished by Hurley. Wells then made a change with Poore being replaced by Jordan Bazley. 5 minutes later Wells got their second when a perfectly weighted diagonal cross field ball by Catley was knocked back into the box Emery and Catley, who had continued his run met the ball at the far post and coolly slotted home. At this point there only looked like one team were going to win, but Wells then pressed the self-destruct button and within 2 minutes Portishead pulled a goal back when once again slack marking left the Portishead No9 unmarked and he headed home from 8 yards. This spurred Portishead on as they went looking for an equaliser and the Wells back-line sat deeper and deeper, and but for some poor refereeing, Portishead should have been awarded a penalty for blatant handball with minutes to go, But with the official struggling to keep up with play he waved play on. Wells continued to ride their luck until the final whistle, to gain a valuable 3 points and move them into mid table.
Once again Wells are without a fixture next weekend.