Welling United 0-1 Chatham Town

There was not one outfield player in the home team who shone and once they went behind they lacked ideas on how to break down a team that showed more determination and a greater will to win.

It had all started promisingly for the Wings. Gene Kennedy swung over a deep corner that was headed back by Dave Winfield for Jack Burchell to meet with an acrobatic overhead bicycle kick that flew just over. Elliot Long then exchanged passes with TJ Bramble before shooting beyond the far post.

Fouls by the visitors were mounting and when Anointed Chukwu had a low free kick saved, it appeared that it would just be a matter of time before Welling unlocked the Chats’ defence to open the scoring.

However, midway through the first half, it all changed and the game was turned on its head. James Yila worked his way down the right wing and pulled back a low cross for Freddie Sears to lash home at the near post.

Charlie Pegrum had a low shot saved and Burchell came close with a volley from outside the penalty area that wasn’t far wide. However, Welling’s build up football became more laboured allowing their visitors to keep their shape and Rod Stringer’s team were reduced to long range shots that didn’t bother goalkeeper Brad House too much.

Any instructions that the Welling management gave the players at half time fell on deaf ears as the Wings didn’t come close to replicating some of their quick, crisp passing from seven days earlier. An example of their hesitancy came when a defender was caught in possession by Sam Sene-Richardson allowing him to get a shot off that was wide of the target.

When Welling did finally fashion a good opportunity, they found House equal to it with a brilliant double save. Burchell was first to be denied when the Chatham goalkeeper made a brilliant reaction save from his close range shot, then House was up quickly to smother Reece Grant’s follow up.

Winfield then headed wide from a Pegrum delivery before more slack play from the back allowed Sears another opportunity for Chatham. Fortunately for the Wings, he elected to shoot early and hit it straight into the arms of Lovett.

Despite an injury to House that forced him to be replaced by Ben Bridle-Card, further chances came and went for the visitors when Kian Garlinge headed Yila’s deep cross wide of the far post. Sears then went through and ‘passed’ his effort beyond Lovett and the upright.

Former West Ham United first team player, Sears, continued to have the best chances to put the contest to bed and when Lovett was stranded out of his goal, the Chats’ striker tried his luck from just inside the touchline with a shot that hit the top of the bar on its way over.

One more chance came his way but although Lovett had to come out of his area, he was able to beat out the shot with his chest.

As time got closer to the end, Chatham’s game management ensured that play was broken up constantly and a couple of late yellow cards were a small price to pay to put them in the draw for the third qualifying round.

Welling United: Lovett, Burchell, Wells (Donkor 36), A. Grant (Cornish 75), Perkins (Mensah 83), Winfield, Pegrum, Kennedy, Chukwu (Carty 75), Long, Bramble (R. Grant 51). Subs not used: Munns, Andrews.