Wellington 6 Stafford Town 1
West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division
At: Wellington Playing Field
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Admission: £3; Programme: £1 (24 pages)
Mileage: 141.0 miles
Weather: dry with late sunshine
Attendance: 45 (headcount)
Duration: first-half: 46:17; second-half: 47:00
Non-league fixtures were badly hit again with snow in the north and waterlogged pitches elsewhere. Just two of nine games in the West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division took place and one of them was my preferred destination – Stafford Town’s trip to Herefordshire-based Wellington. However, after conceding the opening goal after just 15 seconds and another five before half-time, Town may well have wished this game had joined the list of postponements. A goal from Matt Buckham, which reduced the deficit to 3-1, gave Town hope but they were left fuming over a controversial decision not to award a penalty for a challenge on Paul McMahon which would have led to Wellington being reduced to ten men. After the break, Stafford salvaged some pride by drawing the goalless second half. I was impressed with the setup at Wellington which included welcoming club officials, a decent tea bar and the tannoy being used to announce the line-ups.Wellington (orange/blue/orange): 1. Matt Eden, 2. Nick Williams, 3. Will Perkins, 4. Craig Sewall, 5. Dale Withers (capt), 6. Wayne McNeil, 7. Steve Brotherwood, 8. Paul Allam, 9. Aaron Morgan, 10. Matt Williams, 11. Paul Jones. Subs: 12. Andy Price (for Nick Williams, 39), 14. Jack Lewis (not used), 15. Saul Thomas (for Perkins, 72).
Stafford Town (red/red/red): 1. Matt Cotterill, 2. Ollie Parker, 3. Tom Hiatt, 4. Craig Holland, 5. Mat Dockerty, 6. Tom Betts (capt), 7. Josh Anderson, 8. Dave Woodvine, 9. Paul McMahon, 10. Tom Doody, 11. Matt Buckham. Subs: 12. Phil Ellerby (for Doody, 24), 14. William Parker (not used), 15. Karl Smith (for Hiatt, 72), 16. Scott Urquhart (not used), 17. Joe Palmer (not used).
Referee: Bruce Rogers (Malvern).
Assistants: Peter Aston and Spiro Makazliev (both Kidderminster).
Goals:
1-0 Paul Jones (1)
2-0 Wayne McNeil (8)
3-0 Aaron Morgan (22)
3-1 Matt Buckham (23)
4-1 Matt Williams (37)
5-1 Dale Withers (44)
6-1 Wayne McNeil (45)
Cards:
Wellington: Craig Sewall (YC, 42), Steve Brotherwood (YC, 70)
Stafford: Mat Dockerty (YC, 45), Craig Holland (YC, 90)
