Welling United pick up first win under boss Steve Lovell – a 4-3 thriller against Ebbsfleet

BY MARK DOIG

After their heavy defeat on Saturday, Welling United bounced back with a thrilling victory over Ebbsfleet United.

They came into the game having won just once all season while their visitors were on a fine run of form having won their three previous games.

Reice Charles-Cook was called into action twice in the first two minutes, saving from Jack Paxman and Alfie Egan ,but it was the Wings who went ahead after eight minutes. Dipo Akinyemi’s shot was tipped on to the post and Olumide Durojaiye followed up to finish.

Josh Payne headed wide for the Fleet from a Lee Martin corner before they levelled when Billy-Joe Taylor speared a shot into the bottom corner from 25 yards out.

Anthony Cook drew a fantastic save from Gio Bellagambi but the Wings went back ahead from the subsequent corner. Darren Oldaker delivered and it bounced around in the six-yard box before coming out to Akinyemi to hook home.

There was controversy close to half-time when Akinyemi burst through and pushed it beyond Bellagambi, who flattened the striker. Surprisingly referee Jack Packman deemed it worthy of no more than a foul and a yellow card.

Rhys Murrell-Williamson had the last chance of the first half but Bellagambi made the most of his good fortune when making a great save.

Soon after the interval. Welling extended their lead. Cook caught Jake Goodman in possession in the penalty area and so desperate was the centre-back to recover that he felled the Welling captain. Akinyemi made no mistake from the spot sending Bellagambi the wrong way.

Cook shot just wide before Ebbsfleet substitute Dominik Poleon had a shot well saved.

On the hour mark, the Fleet pulled one back when it was Welling’s turn to struggle with a corner and Poleon finished from close range.

Goodman thought that he had levelled soon after but his header was ruled out for offside then Poleon saw a curler come back off the post.

Eleven minutes remained when the Fleet equalised when another substitute, Will Wood, fired home emphatically.

However, six minutes later, Welling stunned their rivals by scoring the winner through a deflected strike by Kristian Campbell.

Five minutes of additional time was not enough for Ebbsfleet although they did come close once more when Lee Martin’s deflected shot was saved superbly by Charles-Cook.

PHOTOS: KEITH GILLARD