St Johns are rooted to the bottom of the league and maybe Wells thought they just had to turn up and a victory would fall into their laps. The score line reflects a drubbing but in earnest it should have been a lot more.
Wells started brightly and should have been 3 nil up inside 8 minutes and 6 nil up inside 20. A lack of dominance, killer instinct and damn right poor finishing didn’t see the first goal arrive until the 25th minute when Darren Maynard turned his marker and sped past the covering defenders only to see his shot hit directly at the home custodian but an alert Ryan Morris was on hand to notch from the rebound. St John’s then had a period where they forced 2 corners and free kicks inside the Wells half and Alex Henderson made one flying save to deny them an equaliser. The general possession, passing and first touches declined into embarrassment and a number of people were guilty of missed chances to increase the lead. On 35 minutes Kieran White and Maynard combined and from the by-line Maynard picked out Dan Catley to drive in number 2. Half time could not come quick enough and a forceful chat about basics was drummed into the team. Scoot Hurley replaced Maynard and Charlie Crook replaced Joe Grant.

Although still not firing on all cylinders Wells had enough to take the game away from their hosts as good work from White and Steve Emery saw a low cross into the box rammed into the net by Ryan Crowther on 50 minutes. Olly Bryant replaced Emery on the flank and Wells continued to press. Morris then picked up the ball in the opponents have after pressing from Ross Padfield and Crook and he unleashed a 25 yarder which the keeper could only watch sail into the top corner. When the passing stayed low Wells looked a threat to any team but this was few and far between in the final third with balls being struck too heavy, flick ons being played when it should be time to control and general passes going astray when well placed. By the time Catley notched his second and Wells’ fifth on 70 minutes when capitalising on the keepers parry it should really have been the fifteenth such was the ease to attack.
On 75 a Crowther corner sailed through to the back post and an onrushing Catley gratefully stroked home his hat-trick. In the 78th minute a stupid and unnecessary free kick was given away by Dan Barker and Wells’ Achilles heel resurfaced when the only ball into the box in the second half was initially cleared by Padfield’s header only to find an unmarked striker who scored their consolation goal despite the best efforts of Henderson to thwart. The final 10 minutes saw Wells create numerous chances against the tiring hosts as many balls into the box went untouched. Credit to White who never stopped working and his hold up allowed Catley to play a through ball in to Scott Hurley to sweetly strike number 7. The last word went to Bryant on 88 minutes when he raced onto another through ball to coolly slot in number 8.
Man of the Match – Dan Catley.
The final 3 league games will provide sterner tests but the game will be best forgotten as a spectacle. The plus side saw the goal deference column increased but there are still 3 wins out of 3 required to gain that all elusive promotion.
NO-one from the management team was available for comment after the game……………