Dramatic return to the top

WELLINGTON moved back to the top of the table with a dramatic 2-1 victory at Westbury on Saturday.

And it was a game defender Mark Branton, making his debut, will never forget. The left-back, signed from premier division Hallen, had a penalty awarded against him with 15 minutes remaining, allowing Westbury to break the deadlock.

But – after another newcomer Danny Cockram had equalised – Branton popped up in the home side's penalty area to head an injury-time winner.

Without suspended skipper Simon Ingram and the injured Shane Kingston and Dan Boere, Wellington boss Leigh Robinson had three new signings in his starting line-up, including wide man Jon Crowford, who has re-joined the club.

And two of them almost played a part in giving Wellington an early lead as Crowford released Alex Pounde and his cross found Cockram but the ex-Taunton Town player's shot was blocked.

The game was a lacklustre affair until it exploded into life in the final stages. Stand-in skipper Andy Butler went closest to scoring in the first half with an 11th-minute header which came down off the underside of the bar.

But neither side created a clearcut chance after the interval until Westbury went ahead in controversial circumstances in the 75th minute.

Ashley Groves swung over a cross from the right, which hit the covering Branton, and the referee's assistant ruled he had handled, Wayne Wheeler scoring from the spot.

The Wellington response was virtually immediate as Crowford floated over a cross from the right and Cockram rose above everyone to head the equaliser. That was the signal for the visitors to stage a late rally and they were rewarded in the third minute of added time.

Substitute Jack Adams chipped the ball up to the far post where Nick Woon headed it against the bar and Branton nodded it over the line to spark wild joy among the Wellington players and bench.

Wellington: Stuart Wood, Craig Mawford, Dan Short, Scott Holland, Mark Branton, Jon Crowford, Andy Butler, Danny Cockram, Craig Herrod, Nick Woon, Alex Pounde. Substitutes, Jack Adams, Matt Brown and Tim Legg (all used).