WELLINGTON Reserves continued their encouraging start to life in the premier division with a draw against Lapford before a decent crowd in the Stitch2Print Devon and Exeter Football League at the Playing Field.

Due to injuries, manager Mark Owen and assistant manager Tom Hawkings selected themselves and Ben Evett made his debut against a strong Lapford team who were 100 per cent and had scored 15 goals in their previous two games.

Both teams gave very little away in the early stages with Wellington, playing down the slope kn the first half, trying to play the ball on the floor and Lapford playing high balls to a very tall front line.

But it was Wellington who broke the deadlock after 15 minutes following a fine move from the back to the front line. The ball was played out to Jack Bryant on the edge of the box and, as he drove forward, he hit a shot from 15 yards straight under the keeper.

The game was now being played at a fast pace by both teams but there were few chances with keeper Charlie Hawkings dealing well with all the high balls into the box and the Wellington back line not letting the Lapford pacy wingers in behind them as the half ended 1-0 to the Tangerines.

The second half started worryingly with Jack Bryant going down unwell and being replaced by James Beatty before Owen and then Sam Poole both came off injured.

Wellington now had to reshape the team with Wes Poulsom moving to full back and Ollie Nott moving into the centre of the park.

Again, both teams defended well to restrict any real efforts on each other's goal. On 65 minutes, Nott produced an outstanding shot from well outside the penalty which flew past the keeper but unfortunately hit the corner of the bar and post and rebounded back for a Lapford player to clear.

Five minutes later, Lapford crossed a ball into the box and, after a scramble, the ball dropped to one of their players ten yards out to hit it past Hawkings for the equaliser. Lapford now seemed to have the momentum in the game but Wellington, led by Tom Davies and Connor Noble at the back, held firm and the game ended 1-1,

Wellington Reserves: Charlie Hawkings, Mark Owen, Dylan Groves, Connor Noble, Tom Davies, Sam Poole, Wes Poulsom, Tom Hawkings, Ollie Nott, Jack Bryant, Ben Evett. Substitutes: James Beatty, Josh Sibanda, Ned Ogilvie, Reagan Scotcher (all used).

Lapford were two points clear of the field before this game and have now been joined by Upottery and Clyst Valley.

Upottery pulled off a 6-0 away win over Crediton United while Clyst won 3-2 away to Colyton.