Wellington celebrate league and cup double at County Ground

WELLINGTON completed a memorable league and cup double after defeating New Dales Vale 3-0 in the Zzoomm HFA Charity Bowl final under the SSAFA County Ground floodlights.

The Herefordshire League Premier Division champions recently celebrated promotion back to the Hellenic League structure and also tasted cup success.

Welly had the first clear opportunity when Harley Morris fired a seventh minute effort straight at New Dales Vale goalkeeper George Weaver from the edge of the penalty area.

The Worcester outfit should have taken the lead three minutes later but Yuri Quintas somehow managed to miss a virtual open goal following a cross fired across the face of the Wellington goal mouth.

New Dales created another opportunity within 60 seconds but skipper Connor Grant could only direct his header straight at goalkeeper Matt Apperley before Grant went close with his 13th minute free-kick from 20 yards.

Curtis Driscoll responded with a 25 yard free-kick of his own a couple of minutes later but was unable to test Weaver before heading over the target from a 25th minute cross delivered from out on the right flank.

New Dales finished the opening half strongly as Grant went close with a 35th minute half-volley from the edge of the penalty area before Riley Keasey was unable to his effort on target four minutes later.

The Worcester club came closest to breaking the deadlock in stoppage time but Apperley made a fantastic save to deny Grant with his close-range header.

New Dales looked strong as Grant saw his 25-yard drive blocked by a defender in the 51st minute before Weaver made a smart save four minutes later to deny substitute Tom Dixon as he raced through on goal.

However, Wellington should have opened the scoring moments after the hour mark but managed to find the side-netting following a goalmouth melee.

Driscoll struck an effort over the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area in the 72nd minute before the champions finally made the break through six minutes later.

Dixon raced free from his own half before playing in Charlie Jenkins to smash home the ball past Weaver into the far corner of the net.

New Dales look to hit back with Toby MacDonald heading over the crossbar from an 83rd minute corner before Alex Stayte was denied by Apperley from the edge of the penalty area.

However, Wellington sealed victory with two goals in stoppage time.

Firstly Freddie Fox found the back of the net from the edge of the penalty area in the 91st minute before Dixon converted a low cross from the left to spark the celebrations that ensued after Wellington captain Zac Brimble received the Charity Bowl from Bill Shorten of the Herefordshire FA.