Healthy Park View Road crowd see Welling draw 2-2 with Havant & Waterlooville

BY MARK DOIG

An enthralling National League match at Park View Road between fifth-placed Welling United and Havant and Waterlooville in second spot ended with honours even.

More than 1,100 spectators flocked through the gate in what was a wonderful advertisement for non-league football. The two teams showed skill and desire in a game that had nearly everything.

The visitors had won seven and drawn one of their eight league games so far this season, and provided a real test for Welling, who were unbeaten in six league and FA Cup games.

James Roberts had the first opportunity for Havant with a free-kick that went just wide before their goalkeeper Ross Worner was called into action, first pushing a Stefan Payne shot away, and then recovering to save Ade Azeez’s follow up from a tight angle.

Myles Roberts, the Welling goalkeeper, then made a wonder save from the Hawks’ Roberts, whose shot looked destined for the top corner before a clever Welling free-kick move sent Azeez away, but Worner got down to make an excellent save.

Azeez did not have to wait too much longer for his goal. Payne’s delicate lob sent him through, and he was too strong for Joash Membhard as he fired beyond the advancing Worner.

Six minutes later, parity was restored in slightly fortuitous circumstances for the visitors. Roberts slanted in a low cross and Jamie Sendles-White stretched to intercept but could only divert it past his own goalkeeper and into the bottom corner.

Welling did not have to wait too long before regaining the lead. Aaron Barnes shrugged off Joe Newton before pulling it back for Taylor Maloney, who fired low into the bottom corner.

The Welling goalkeeper made a brilliant save from his namesake after the break, and another good one when substitute Muhammadu Faal found space down the left-hand side.

Roberts of Havant had two headers saved by Roberts of Welling before the Havant midfielder was thwarted by another stunning save to tip away a corner.

As the game approached the final 10 minutes, Billy Clifford was red carded to leave the Hawks down to 10 men. He might have been dismissed just before half-time for a nasty tackle but escaped with a yellow card before stopping Azeez from breaking away with a cynical trip which warranted a second booking.

Despite being short-numbered, the Hawks continued to look for an equaliser and got it with four minutes remaining when Jason Prior scored with a diving header.

Worner saved from Maloney as Welling searched for a winner, and they thought that they had it in the final minute of stoppage time when Chi Ezennolim bundled it home, but it had already gone out of play before being pulled back to him.

PICTURE: MICHAEL BROWNE