Toolstation League premier division: Wellington 1-5 Brixham

Wellington failed to end their run of defeats as they were comfortably beaten by newly promoted Brixham at a rain-sodden Playing Field yesterday (Saturday, October 28th).

Manager Richard Cherry made a number of changes to the side who had been knocked out of the Les Phillips Cup by Ilfracombe Town in midweek.

He was without dual registered Josh Baker and Douglas Camilo – recalled by parent club Willand Rovers – while there were returns for Miles Quick, Jordan Hayman and Cherry’s son, Alex.

Brixham are certainly enjoying life at the higher level – having moved up from the South West Peninsula League – and their victory lifted them to third in the table.

They took control of the game early on with two goals in the first 17 minutes – the aptly-named Aaron Wellington converted a pull-back after ten minutes before Danny Gaze raced on to a neat reverse pass to advance on goal and finish clinically past keeper Shay Allen.

When Brixham made it 3-0 after 34 minutes – Wellington scoring his second after Charlie Johansen had flicked a cross against the post – it left the Tangerines with a mountain to climb.

To their credit, the hosts refused to lie down and they enjoyed a good spell of possession early in the second half, culminating in them reducing the arrears on 56 minutes.

Ryan Brereton played in Mark Cornish and, although the defender’s shot was saved by keeper Connor Smith, Brereton followed up to drill home the rebound from 12 yards.

However, that proved to be a false dawn as Brixham regained control to score two more goals.

Ewen Howarth made it 4-1 after 76 minutes with a superb shot into the top corner from 25 yards and then Reece Somers headed home a free kick in the final minute of normal time.

Wellington: Shay Allen, Mark Cornish, Alex Cherry, Jordan Hayman, Tom Stone (c), Miles Quick, Flynn Smith, Kieran Ireland, Ryan Brereton, Josh Lukins, Tom Burt. Substitutes: James Cottrill, Lewis Jennings, Ryan Hibbert (used); Rhys Williams (not used).

The Tangerines are home again next Saturday (November 4th) when sixth-placed Buckland Athletic visit the Playing Field.