Wellington 2 Bloxwich United 2

WELLINGTON’S players might soon be catching the bus to home matches if they continue to give visiting teams a flying start.

The third-from-bottom villagers were caught cold in the opening 45 minutes and were fortunate to be trailing by just two goals at the interval.

But second-half strikes by skipper Dale Withers and Jack Lewis salvaged a point against Bloxwich, who had a man dismissed and their manager ordered from the dug-out.

“At home we are very slow to start but away, with the bus journey, we’re always buzzing and raring to go,” said Withers, who scored his first goal of the season.

“At home we are lethargic and we don’t seem ready for it. It seems to take us time to get going. It took us 45 minutes today to get ready. We have to get it out of our system,”

he said.

“We eventually turned up in the second half and we caused them a few problems.”

Wellington are now unbeaten in three matches but have won just twice at home in the league so far this campaign.

Manager Derek Williams said: “We travel quite well because our lads enjoy away days. We make it fun and the lads look forward to playing away. We might have to see what we can do for home games. We got off to a terrible start today. I told a few home truths at half time and gave them a roasting. I then tried to be positive and told them how we were going to get back into the match.”

Bloxwich’s Alan Wilkes was given his marching orders in the 81st minute after picking up two bookings.

And the Walsall club’s boss John Quilt was sent to the sidelines in Saturday’s West Midlands League Premier Division match, which felt like a cup tie in the final 20 minutes.

Wellington’s players warmed up before the match using boxing gloves and punching exercises but they were on the ropes after just six minutes.

Leon Taylor fired Bloxwich ahead and then goalkeeper Matt Eden made a crucial save from Wilkes to keep Wellington in contention.

Andy Price forced a good parry from Bloxwich goalkeeper Gavin Ellis in the 35th minute but Wellington then had two slices of good fortune.

Eden parried a drive from John Freeman who headed the loose ball against the upright and Wilkes’ free-kick beat Wellington’s five-man wall and struck the inside of the post. The ball rebounded to Taylor who knocked it into the empty net but his effort was ruled off-side.

However, Bloxwich remained in control and Adam Simkiss hit their second goal from a superb free-kick two minutes before the interval.

Bloxwich were awarded a free-kick around 25 yards out and Simkiss curled a left-foot shot over Wellington’s defensive wall and into the top left-hand-corner.

Freeman had the ball in the Wellington net two minutes after the interval but it was flagged off-side.

The dangerous Taylor was denied by the reflexes of Eden in the 57th minute and the save proved vital because Wellington hit back within two minutes.

Will Perkins’ inswinging corner caused problems for Ellis and Withers forced the ball over the line to put Wellington back in the match.

Wayne McNeil cut in from the left and skipped past a couple of defenders before screwing his shot wide and then Steve Brotherwood chipped over after breaking into the box.

Wellington were in the ascendancy and substitute Paul Jones surged into the area and crossed for Matt Williams whose goalbound drive was somehow blocked on the line.

Wellington kept up the momentum and deservedly drew level in the 76th minute.

Perkins whipped in a left-footed free kick and Jack Lewis glanced a header into the net.

Bloxwich were visibly rattled and their task got harder when they were reduced to 10 men with nine minutes remaining.

Wilkes’ lunging challenge floored Wellington debutant Jamie Edwards and the visiting player picked up his second booking in just 14 minutes.

Both sides pushed for a winning goal and the best chance fell to the visitors with five minutes remaining.

Karl Edwards found space inside the home box but his low drive was well saved by Eden.

“We lost 7-0 last week against Tividale and we knew it would be the same if we didn’t pick it up,” said Simkiss, who scored Bloxwich’s second goal.

“We missed some good chances but I was pleased to get on the scoresheet and to come away with a draw.”

● Wellington host Herefordshire rivals Pegasus Juniors next Tuesday night in the second round of the HFA County Challenge Cup.