BROMYARD Town’s fine start to the West Midlands League Premier Division season came to an end, as Wellington Amateurs thumped them 5-0 at Delahay Meadow.

After five wins on the bounce for Town, a late five-minute hat-trick from Gavin Davies, ended the Herefordshire side’s chances of scraping a result, despite an impressive performance from goalkeeper Dan Joyner.

The shot-stopper made a string of saves to keep his side in the match for 85 minutes, and admitted: “I made more saves than I’d have liked to.

“Sometimes it goes for you and I’ve played in many games where I’ve dropped a clanger and you’re looking at your mates to help you out.

“Today I was just glad I could repay the favour but unfortunately we couldn’t get anything out of the match.

“Basic mistakes cost us early on and it was always going to be an uphill task from there,” added Joyner.

Bromyard found themselves a goal behind with less than a minute on the clock, when a long ball over the defence caused problems, allowing Jay Price to sneak in and slot home.

Things went from bad to worse for Bromyard when captain Dave Cannon was forced off with a hamstring injury after just five minutes, being replaced by Rob Woodward.

Another ball over the top had Bromyard in trouble with Ryan Guryn one-on-one, but his first-time header was superbly finger-tipped wide by Joyner.

The Shropshire-based side were dominating and defender Tom Lappin’s header was forced off the line.

Bromyard responded with striker Ash Millard heading a chance wide and another effort from 18 yards being saved by Amateurs’ keeper Steve Bray.

But the visitors ended the first-half in the ascendancy with Robbie Millington seeing a cross-come-shot land on the woodwork, before his through-ball finding Price, who pin-pointed the right-hand corner of the goal to beat Joyner and the defence on the line.

After the break, Gareth Williams-Howell hit a weak back-pass as Price latched on to the loose ball, only to be thwarted by the onrushing Joyner.

Amateurs’ Ble Pangne then tested the busy keeper, who tipped the striker’s effort onto the bar.

Pangne had another opportunity and after getting past Joyner, Richard Ward cleared the danger off the line.

Time was running out for Bromyard to salvage something from the game, but Ashley Morris went on a promising run to set up a chance for Steven Hawkes who shot wide. This was before Jason Townsend’s curling effort was clawed away with just 10 minutes remaining.

Richard Burgess then provided a fine cross for substitute Alex Taffe, who volleyed over from close range.

Amateurs’ Price found himself with another one-on-one being well-saved by Joyner but with five minutes left, a ball was lumped forward as Town’s Ward lost his footing, and Davies was on hand to slot home and seal the win.

Millington, Davies and Jamie King then all combined in a great move that finished with another Joyner save, before Davies tapped in his second. Two minutes later, Davies completed his hat-trick with a clinical lob.

“For the first 15 minutes of the second-half it looked like we were going to get something from the game but that third goal killed us off,” said Joyner.

Bromyard manager Geoff Woodward added: “After the break we had some great chances but we couldn’t make them count and it all went a bit haywire at the end.

“Had we have scored at 2-0 it might have been a different story as we were putting the pressure on them.”

Bromyard spokesman and club stalwart, Clive Harris, said: “When Alex Taffe fired over with the score at 2-0, that was a bit of a turning point in the game.

“We pushed forward in numbers and got caught out by their sub who took his hat-trick very well.”