WELLINGTON are out of the Isuzu FA Vase after losing 3-1 at home to lower league Sidmouth Town at the second round qualifying stage at the Playing Field, despite taking the lead against their Devon rivals.

The visitors, who play in the South West Peninsula League Premier East, showed why they have only lost once this season with their more clinical finishing sealing a place in the next round.

The Tangerines started well and Harry Scott shot wide from a good position before they went ahead after 19 minutes.

Sam Gleeson’s long cross from the left was headed back across goal by Jake Quick for big striker Matt Crawley to head his first goal for the club from close range.

But it all wentg wrong for Wellington six minutes later as defender Tom Stone was sin-binned and, from the resulting fre kick, the ball reached Harry Saunders who shot low past keeper Jake Viney.

The hosts then suffered a blow when skipper Glen Wright limped out of the game and, although it stayed 1-1 until the break at half time, Sidmouth went in front three minutes into the second half.

Stone was judged to have handled a long throw into the home box and former Taunton Town striker Craig Veal stepped up to coolly dispatch the spot kick to put the visitors in front.

Wellington enjoyed plenty of possession as they pushed forward in a bid to draw level but there was no way through a well organised Devon defence.

Indeed, it was Sidmouth who went further in front with three minutes remaining as a layback was driven home by Ryan Gilpin.

The Tangerines continued to press but a bad afternoon was capped in jury time when midfielder Sam Towler received a second yellow card before sub Josh Lukis hit the cross bar just before the final whistle.

Wellington: Jake Viney, Sam Sheldrake, Mark Cornish, Tom Stone, Jason Quick, Sam Gleeson, Harry Scott, Sam Towler, Glen Wright, Matt Crawley, Jake Quick. Substitutes: Nathan Byrne, Josh Lukins, Phil Mendonca, Ryan Hibbert (used); Rob Hall (not used).

Meanwhile, Wellington return to action in the Premier Division of the Jewson Western League this coming Saturday (Sept 28) when they play away to St Blazey in Cornwall.

Having won at Torpoint Athletic in an exciting match in their last game in the division, Wellington will be looking for back to back away victories in the league against a side which has also not made the best of starts this season.

Highflyers Clevedon Town have no match this weekend while one of the other leading sides Portishead play at Brixham looking to keep up the pressure at the top. Street visit Torpoint while Brislington are away to Oldland Abbotonians.