Wellington opened their account for the season in division one of the Toolstation league thanks to an excellent all-round display in a 3-1 success at newly-promoted Cheddar yesterday.

And a much better day for Colin Merrick’s side was capped by a wonder goal from 16-year-old striker Joe Conway.

After their disappointing 2011-12 campaign, Merrick has been gradually re-building his squad and included two more new signings – defender Jack Adams, who has rejoined the club from Taunton Town and midfielder Matty Pounde, brother of former Wellington striker Alex.

And both played their part along with striker Dale Webber – last season’s leading scorer – who was also making his first start since coming back into the ranks.

Wellington played some slick football in the first half but went ahead in bizarre circumstances as Darren Rice’s 16th-minute corner sailed directly into the net with the help of a Cheddar defender.

They doubled their advantage on the half-hour after good work by skipper Leon Taswell saw him feed Tom Ellis and his cross was nodded home at the far post by Webber, who had a fine return up front.

The game took a controversial turn five minutes after the break as a dipping shot by Cheddar’s Wayne Scorse was saved by Callum O’Brien with the home side claiming vehemently that the keeper had carried the ball over the line.

Their appeals were turned down but that seemed to spark them into life and they pulled a goal back after 67 minutes from a volley by Adam Jones.

By now, Wellington were on the ropes but their nerves were settled by the stunning intervention of substitute Conway, who has come up through the club’s youth ranks.

With five minutes left, he got behind the Cheddar defence, spotted keeper Jason Woodcock off his line and produced a sublime 25-yard chipped shot into the net to seal a badly-needed victory.

Wellington: Callum O’Brien, Ashley Parker, Tom Ellis, Ollie Feltham, Jack Adams, Max Westlake, Matty Pounde, Adam Cook, Darren Rice, Leon Taswell, Dale Webber. Substitutes: Joe Holmes, Joe Conway and Josh Martin (all used).

Meanwhile, Wellington Reserves fielded a makeshift side away to Dundry Athletic in the Somerset Senior Cup and crashed to an 8-0 defeat.