Wells Reserves tame the Lions

Wells Reserves travelled to top of the table Kewstoke Lions knowing that only a solid and professional performance would bring them home all 3 points.
The game started brightly with both sides playing some good attacking football. Wells’ first real chance fell to Ryan Pledger who drilled the ball into the side netting. On 20 minutes Kewstoke played a long ball out of defence, and Mike Roper in the Wells goal called for the ball, so Pete Vowles left it and the Kewstoke striker snuck in behind only to be upended by the advancing keeper. The penalty was duly despatched and the game remained 1-0 going into half time.
The second half started in much the same pattern until on 55 minutes the game changed dramatically. Ryan Pledger was shown a second yellow card and was given his marching orders. Wells, stunned by this seemed to be spurred on as they began to take control of the game, with Kieron White holding the ball up well as the lone striker. Olly Bryant was introduced on 60 minutes for Joe Grant and this gave Wells a bit more energy down the right. This was followed by Darren Maynard on for the hard working Steve Emery. Wells’ chances came at will but they were unable to provide that final touch. Captain Dan Catley, who put in a tremendous shift was replaced by Scott Hurley with 10 minutes to go and almost immediately unsettled Kewstoke even more. From a Wells corner there was a melee in the box and Pete Vowles poked the ball in from 2 yards. Wells had the bit between their teeth and with 2 minutes remaining were rewarded a free kick 25 yards out. 16 year old James Russell stepped up to take it and thundered a left foot shot into the top corner leaving the keeper no chance. But there was still time for controversy, when it appeared Kewstoke had taken an early free kick in injury time only for Martyn Sheppard to make a crunching challenge which optimised the team’s performance, only for the Kewstoke player to take exception and grab him by the throat. This left the referee no option but to send the Kewstoke player off. Wells then played the ball into the corner form the resulting free kick, to run down the clock. Wells running out worthy 2-1 winners. Coach Julian Coppell said after the game, this was an excellent performance all round, and we fully deserved the victory. We held on to the ball just too long in the first half and the passes weren’t on, but in the second half we sorted that out. When Ryan was sent off it spurred us on, but probably helped by the fact that Kewstoke stayed with a rigid back 4 even when we only had 1 up front. As for James’ winner. Wow.