Les Phillips Cup Quarter Final: Shepton Mallet 2-0 Wells City

Shepton Mallet ran out comfortable 2-0 winners in the quarter final of the Les Phillips Cup on Tuesday evening, the scoreline reflecting the overall dominance of the home side writes Merv Colenutt.

Both sides are doing well in their respective divisions of the Western League, but it was the home side who proved more clinical in front of goal in the opening period of the game.

The opening period was dominated by the home side and they took the lead on 10 minutes with a superb strike from Jacob Sloggettt who scored with a cracker of an effort from all of 20 yards.

Wells City’s strike force of Joe Morgan and Steve Murray did produce decent efforts midway through the opening half, but ten minutes before the break, Shepton Mallet doubled their advantage when Charlie Bateson blocked a Kai Murrell clearance and was quick to react to fire a fine effort past Harvey Wilkinson at his near post.

Shepton Mallet continued their dominance at the start of the second half and it was Jacob Sloggett who again went close with a terrific effort from 22 yards that flew inches wide of an upright.

The home side looked to have put the game totally beyond the reach of Wells City on 64 minutes when Charlie Bateson sent a fine shot beyond the right hand of Harvey Wilkinson in the Wells City goal, but the goal was ruled out for offside, Linesman Martin Pearse well positioned to give the correct call.

Luco Ponsillo did well to test Wilkinson with another fine effort as the home side looked to put the game beyond the reach of Wells City, but despite a late rally from the visitors with Olly Bryant sending a decent effort just wide from 18 yards out, Shepton Mallet never really looked likely to surrender their two goal advantage as they ran out deserved winners.

Attendance; 364

Man of the match; Paul Braithwaite