Welly are held

Toolstation League premier division: Wellington 0, Bishop Sutton 0

NEWLY-PROMOTED Wellington’s stop-start opening to their first campaign back in the premier division suffered another stutter as they were held by Bishop Sutton at the Playing Field yesterday.

It was a poor game and, although Wellington improved in the second half, they could not make that all-important breakthrough.

Chances were few and far between and when Aussie striker Darren Stone fired over from a good position in the opening minutes, few would have believed this would be one of the clearest openings of the match.

Wellington gave a patchy display and it was Stone, who went close next … but that was more than 40 minutes later as he curled a shot just wide.

Leigh Robinson’s side played with more intent after the interval and midfielder Andy Robertson should have done better after 55 minutes as he was set up by Craig Herrod but blasted over the bar.

His central midfield partner Andy Butler then took centre stage, seeing a header tipped over and then a shot deflected just wide while Stone brought a good save out of visiting keeper Chris Blammon.

But it was Bishop Sutton who nearly snatched the points seven minutes from time as the lively Rob Dumphy rounded keeper Ryan Lewis but Robertson got back to clear the danger.

Wellington: Ryan Lewis, Craig Mawford, Scott Holland, Daniel Short, Jack Adams, Jon Crowford, Andy Butler, Andy Robertson, Craig Herrod, Shane Kingston, Darren Stone. Substitutes, Simon Ingram, Aaron Deeks and Luke Desave (all used).