Two-goal victory sweeps Wellington to victory over Pegasus (From Hereford Times)

Two-goal victory sweeps Wellington to victory over Pegasus

7:00am Friday 18th November 2011 in Pegasus FC By Ian Morgan

Pegasus 1 Wellington 3

THERE was nothing nervous about Paul ‘Norm’ Jones’ two-goal display which swept Wellington to a remarkable Herefordshire derby victory at Old School Lane.

The 21-year-old hauled Wellington level with nine minutes left and put the villagers ahead soon afterwards.

Andy Price completed Wellington’s late fightback with one minute remaining.

“Everyone calls me Norm because, when I was a baby, I used to get nervous when anyone walked through the door,” explained the Lucton-based striker.

“My mum started to call me Nervous Norm and the name Norm has stuck with me ever since. You can say that I wasn’t nervous today.

“When we get the ball down we can beat anyone in this league. Once we got the first goal, we finally sprang into action.”

Pegasus opened the scoring in the 21st minute of last Saturday’s scrappy West Midlands League Premier Division clash.

Wellington skipper Dale Withers headed into his own net, under pressure from Pegasus’ Jason Prosser, after fine work on the right by Will Loughman.

And the Hereford club should have extended their lead after the interval when Loughman and Cory Hyde were denied by the reflexes of Wellington goalkeeper Dan Tecza.

Mark Davies headed over Jimmy Moreton’s cross and Moreton fired narrowly wide as Pegasus looked in control until they fell apart in the final nine minutes.

After the match, Pegasus’ assistant-manager Marc Jarvis admitted he was lost for words.

“If you don’t take your chances it comes back to bite you - we were the better footballing side today but we’ve lost,” said Jarvis, a former Wellington assistant- manager.

“We missed three good chances to score a second goal and had we done that, we would have gone on and won the game comfortably.

Jarvis added: “Seven weeks ago we were looking to finish in the top five but now we’re in a relegation fight. We have to stick together, believe in ourselves and get our swagger back. We need a leader.”

Wellington were out to avenge a 4-0 reverse earlier in the campaign but rarely threatened Pegasus’ backline until Jones levelled with nine minutes left.

Jones scored with a low shot which bounced in off the post, after trickery from Wayne McNeil.

He then gave Wellington the lead, with his ninth goal of the campaign, with a crisp drive from the edge of the box in the 87th minute.

And Price sealed Wellington’s triumph two minutes later, seizing on a defensive lapse, to smash the ball home from close range.

Jarvis was disappointed that Pegasus’ defence failed keep a tight grip on McNeil.

“Wayne McNeil is better than this standard – he should be playing a lot higher,” he said.

“We did well to keep him quiet but he did one thing and it changed the game.”

Wellington boss Derek Williams said he was pleased his men took the local bragging rights.

“It’s been hard for the club this year because we’ve been down on players.

“We’ve got a few problems but we’re overjoyed with this result.”

Williams added: “Norm led the line well today. He’s a great lad.

"He was sat on the bench for 18 months but he’s in the team every week now.”