WELLINGTON slipped back into the Toolstation first division relegation zone after a 5-2 defeat on the artificial pitch at Keynsham Town yesterday.

There were no signs of things to come as Jamie Ward’s start made a positive start and seemed to have adapted well to the unusual surface.

But they were unable to capitalise on their bright opening and returned home empty handed as Devizes Town leapfrogged over them near the foot of the table.

Despite having played only twice in January, Wellington played some good football early on only for Keynsham to go ahead thanks to a stooping header by Scott Brain.

But they refused to let that knock them out of their stride and drew level after ten minutes as defender Jack Adams curled a free-kick around the wall and into the net.

Wellington seemed to lose their way as the half wore on and fell behind in the 26th minute when a clearance was headed straight back to striker Wayne Morris, who skipped passed a defender before shooting low past keeper Jake Viney.

The visitors were still very much in the game but, eight minutes into the second half, Adams turned from hero to villain as he fouled winger Fabian McCarthy just inside the edge of the box and Rob Sheriton thumped home the resulting penalty.

Keynsham virtually sealed the points on the hour with a virtual replica of their first goal as this time Rich Healey stooped to help Seb Spiller’s free-kick past Viney.

To their credit, Wellington refused to lie down and made it 4-2 with five minutes remaining as Tim Legg played in striker Corey Lewis to produce a clinical finish.

But Keynsham had the final say in injury time with man-of-the-match Morris lifting a cross from the left into the roof of the net.

Wellington: Jake Viney, Nicky Ford, Scott Holland, Ed Weeks, Jack Adams, Max Westlake, Darren Rice, Tim Legg, Luke Redrup, Corey Lewis, Kyle Bassett. Substitutes: Joe Holmes, Joe Chamberlain and Martin White (all used).