FOOTBALL: Bridgwater Town overcome Wellington at Fairfax Park

A FIRST goal from recent signing Oscar Latas and a sweet strike from Jack Taylor against his former side were enough to take Bridgwater Town past near-neighbours Wellington at a foggy Fairfax Park on Tuesday night, writes Kerry Miller.

It was a workmanlike performance from the hosts, which will not stay in the memory long for the simple reason that only parts of it were visible as the evening progressed, with the freezing fog thickening and at one point threatening to intervene.

In the end it stayed away sufficiently for the Robins to move up to seventh in the Premier Division while Wellington stay second from bottom, with just Odd Down below them.

Bridgwater co-managers Dave Pearse and Karl Baggaley gave a debut to new signing Owen Irish, and the Taunton Town man breezed through a game where Wellington grafted well but created little in the way of chances despite hard running from frontmen Carl Jones and Ian Bellinger, both returning to their former club.

It took just 15 minutes for the home side to take the lead through Latas, as Sam Towler slung in a curling cross and when Tom Ellis nodded it back the former Chard and Bridport man nudged it home from two yards out.

Towler had already volleyed over and Taylor saw an effort deflected for a corner as Bridgwater pressed early on, while Wellington’s only real effort came from as Bellinger free-kick midway through the half.

Latas and Ellis also went close but on a pitch which sounded if it was crisping up as the game went on, a fast-paced passing game was unlikely.

After the break Harry Horton’s free-kick was gathered well by Tom Welch in the Wellington goal and with Jake Horsey showing well for the visitors they were still in the game until midway through the second half.

Ollie Morris threaded the ball through for Taylor to go close, then Horton and Latas had efforts wide and high, but the clincher would not come - and with the fog increasing any result or an abandonment were possibilities.

Then, on 68 minutes, Horton’s sweet through ball found Taylor and his speed off the mark gave him the split second needed to nudge the ball over Welch for his 18th goal of the season and sew up the victory.

Bridgwater Town: Jake Viney, Dave Thorne, Finley Wilkinson, Harry Horton, Owen Irish, Tom Ellis, Ollie Morris (Luke Manley 82), Sam Towler, Jack Taylor, Oscar Latas (Noah Coppin 77), Jake Llewellyn (Mike Duffy 72). Subs not used: Dave O'Hare, Mark Armstrong.
Wellington: Tom Welch, Elliot Williams, Mike Mullen, James Clough (Joe Wylie 64), Jake Horsey, Glen Wright, Josh Champion, Kyle Bassett, Carl Jones (Jesse Howe 60), Ian Bellinger, George Sinnott (Harry Scatchard 31). Subs not used: Josh Pearson, Charlie Dodd.
Attendance: 211

Bridgwater now move on to a visit to title-chasing Exmouth Town on Saturday, while Wellington visit fellow strugglers Cadbury Heath.