Team 22. Ollie Green 2. Chris Dunphy 3. Sam Wilson 4. Ian Brooke 5. Joel Thompson 6. Mark Eaton 7. Paul Taylor 8. Charlie Bertuello 9. Matt Vitty 10. Ed Willoughby 11. Rishi Nankani
subs 12. Josh Smith 14. Charlie Hookway 15. Richard Stevens 1. Jordan Busby (GK)
Scorers: Matt Vitty, Charlie Hookway, Rishi Nankani
This was an eventful game that guaranteed that Welling could finish no lower than 3rd in the League. Several changes were made to the team to give some boys who had been on the bench previously a chance of starting. The same formation that had proved so effective against Thamesmead last week was retained.
In the first half Welling scored a slightly fortunate goal as Matt Vitty chased a ball down that bounced off the keeper into Matt and rolled into an empty net. Rishi Nankani then hit the post from a spectacular strike. Ollie Green, deputising for Jordan Busby in goal, had not had to make a save as the first half ended with Welling a goal up.
Half time Lewisham Youth 0 – 1 Welling United
The game was turned on its head controversially when Referee Wyatt sent off Ollie Green for a foul on the Lewisham forward as he broke into the box. The ball was going off for a goal kick when the striker appeared to dive over Ollie’s outstretched hand. However the referee saw it differently and this Welling side got its first ever red card!!
Jordan Busby was brought on and he immediately saved the penalty but couldn't get up to block the ball again as it fell to the taker who scored on the rebound.
An excellent finish from the Lewisham striker put Welling 2-1 down.
The 10 man Welling responded by playing their best football. They started to dominate and equalised on 73 minutes when Charlie Hookway poked the ball home from close range and 2 minutes later a cross from Charlie saw Rishi Nankani tap the ball home from 2 yards.
Cue mass celebrations. However referee Wyatt came over to say he was going to report Ollie for celebrating with the subs as he shouldn't have been near the pitch!!!!!!!!!! He did rescind this decision after the game thankfully!
Lewisham then had a player dismissed for 2 yellow cards, and it really wasn't that sort of game!
Welling had many chances to score a 4th but had not done so when the final whistle was blown after 6 plus minutes of injury time.
It was a magnificent performance to come from 2-1 down with 10 men!
Managers Comments “It was one of those games that needed a spark to get us going!!!”
Excellent performance when reduced to 10.
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YOUTH are the future
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"The worst thing you can do is make a committment and not meet it and I understand that." Barrie Hobbins 14 August 2010
Ghost written this week as I didn't actually get to the ground. I set out for the match, got stuck in a massive traffic hold up round the back of Bromley due to queuing for the tip, went to where I thought the ground was (having used the trusty? streetmap site) to find only a Police sports club. The locals weren't much help and having spent about half an hour going round in circles I headed back to Welling.
I gather that the game didn't warrant the red cards but the ref is well known for his penchant for carding players.
What is pleasing is the way that the lads have picked themselves up after the 4-0 defeat at the hands of Thamesmead in the League Cup - their heaviest loss in 2 years of Kent League Football.
Next week's match against Bromley is a high stakes match for both sides with the probability that it will determine which of the sides finishes 2nd in the League. If my calculations are correct a Welling win would mean that Bromley would have to beat Thamesmead in the last league match of the season. My money would be on Thamesmead who will I'm confident still be unbeaten and will want to finish the season so leaving Welling in the runners up spot.
I will be publishing match details as soon as I have them.
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YOUTH are the future
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"The worst thing you can do is make a committment and not meet it and I understand that." Barrie Hobbins 14 August 2010
