Jack Greenslade bagged the Player of the Match award with a brace of goals as East Budleigh won a massive three points against Wellington last Saturday, triumphing 3-2, writes Mark Auton.
Budleigh had to ride their luck in the second half as the visitors missed some gilt-edged chances before Greenslade kept his cool to slot home the winner in the 83rd minute.
It was the Jays that started well with Toby Hill testing the visiting keeper early on, but it was the away side who scored with their first attempt.
The lead only lasted for three minutes though, Greenslade, Brad Hill and Rian Hill combined with the latter winning a penalty that was competently dispatched by the former.
Budleigh were forced to reshuffle with Kyle Barnsley replacing the injured Adam Wilkinson and it was 2-1 before the break when Louis Adey found the bottom corner with his left-foot finish.
Wellington upped the pressure after the break and levelled the scores seven minutes in and also created and failed to take their chances, with the Budleigh ‘keeper also denying them on a couple of occasions, whilst Hugo Demetre had a fine game.
Then came the Budleigh chance for Greenslade that made the difference.
Nathan Penhallurick struck four times for East Budleigh Reserves last Saturday as they booked their place in the next round of the Bill Slee Cup with a 6-2 win at Dunkeswell.
Player of the Match Penhallurick battered the home defence with a treble inside 15 minutes that included a stunning 30-yard strike.
The hosts pulled a goal back, but Tom Christian struck the back of the net with a low shot to give Budleigh a three-goal lead at the interval.
After the restart, Dan Atkinson scored from close range, whilst Penhallurick made it six. The hosts added a second consolation and were denied more by Budleigh stopper Reggie Kew, who again handled well.
In an excellent all-round display, stand-in skipper Joe Day impressed for a Budleigh side who host Sidmouth in Devon & Exeter Division Three this Saturday.
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