Worthing do the double over Welling United in National League South

BY MARK DOIG

After their festive season double over Tonbridge Angels, Welling United’s revival was ended with a 3-2 defeat at Worthing.

Earlier in the season, Worthing claimed their first ever National League South victory at Welling and they completed the maximum points haul against them on their home turf in bracing coastal conditions.

Warren Feeney made one change to his starting line-up from their New Year’s Day win over Tonbridge Angels replacing Antony Papadopoulos with Medy Elito. Daniel Nkrumah dropped back into midfield with Amadou Kassarate playing in a more advanced role as Welling looked to chase the Worthing defenders to disrupt their playing out from the back game.

Despite that, Worthing absorbed Welling’s lively start and had shots of their own from Lewis White and Joel Colbran off target. Amadou Kassarate shot wide for Welling before Myles Roberts made the first of a series of fine saves to thwart Davide Rodari.

Shortly after, Worthing went ahead with the one low point of Roberts’ afternoon. When coming for a cross, he couldn’t avoid team-mate Manny Parry and it fell loose for Ollie Pearce to roll it into the empty net from a tight angle.

Jamie Sendles-White then made a brilliant last man tackle after White had gone round Roberts before the Welling goalkeeper made an excellent save from Dan Bowry.

Using the high press to advantageous effect, Taylor Maloney dispossessed Bowry inside his own penalty area and shot but Worthing goalkeeper Harrison Male tipped his drive over.

Eight minutes before half-time, Worthing doubled their lead when Kane Wills’ long through ball sent White clear through the middle and he gave Roberts no chance with an accomplished finish.

Pearce had a header pushed over by Roberts then shot wide from the corner before both teams had good chances prior to the break. Kassarate sent Elito through, but Male made an excellent low save then White sent Wills clear, but his first touch was too heavy, and Roberts came out to claim at his feet.

Feeney made a change at the break, replacing Kassarate with Papadopoulos and the Welling substitute netted early in the second period but fell foul of the Worthing offside trap.

Roberts twice saved well from Cal Kealy and Pearce shot over before Worthing extended their lead despite the best efforts of the Welling goalkeeper. He made an outstanding save to deny Kealy and an even better one from Rodari’s follow up, but he was left helpless when White was alert to crash it home.

Six minutes later Taylor Maloney pulled one back from the penalty spot. Elito gave him the chance to have a crack at goal and it hit an outstretched arm in the box. Maloney made no mistake from 12 yards.

Ibby Akanbi came on as a substitute for the hosts and thought that he had increased the Rebels’ lead with a shot that went through Pearce’s legs on the goal-line. Initially, the goal was awarded with the flag down, but the referee was persuaded to confer with his assistant and the goal was disallowed.

There would have been no dispute had his next effort gone in, but Roberts tipped his drive on to the bar and out.

Ade Azeez shot just wide for Welling when picked out by a Maloney free-kick and the visitors gave themselves a glimmer of hope when they scored again with five minutes remaining. Elito split the defence and Nkrumah timed his run perfectly before finishing in style.

Parry had an opportunity to score an unlikely equaliser in stoppage time but screwed his shot wide before the Wings suffered another red card, this one exceptionally harsh. Taylor Curran had been on the pitch for less than two minutes and wanted to take a free-kick quickly, but Josh Chambers wouldn’t retreat. Curran pushed him away and the referee rushed over and dismissed him.

As a result, should Welling not appeal successfully, Curran will be unavailable for the next three league games, starting with Saturday’s derby with Dulwich Hamlet.

PICTURES: DAVE BUDDEN

Main pic: Wings defenders close down Joel Colbran