Welling dumped much-changed National League leaders Chesterfield out of FA Trophy
BY MARK DOIG
Although not named in the original Welling United starting line-up, Adam Roscrow became unavailable at the last minute meaning that young Enoch Muwonge was given his place,
Youth was to the fore as Muwonge, partnering 17-year-old David Kamara, made the most of his opportunity with a man of the match performance in the Wings’ 2-0 win against National League leaders Chesterfield.
It was known before the game that the Spireites would be fielding a youthful side and their wish to concentrate on the league was so apparent that manager Paul Cook didn’t even make the trip. Kamara and Muwonge won’t worry about that, though, having scored the goals that put the Wings into the last 16 of the FA Trophy.
Off-target shots by Antony Papadopoulos and Chiori Johnson were the only incidents of note early on before recent signing Johnson pulled up with a hamstring injury midway through the first half. Welling manager Danny Bloor had intended to give Jack Burchell some game time on his return from two months out, but not as early as that. However, Welling’s only clean sheets this season have been when Burchell and Lachlan Byrd have played together, so it was a welcome sign to see them back on the pitch.
Shots and headers continued to miss the target as Welling had all of the territorial advantage before Chesterfield goalkeeper Luke Chadwick was forced into his first save, an unconventional one, when kicking Byrd’s prodded effort off the goal-line.
Chadwick again used his boot to good effect when stretching it out to save as Papadopoulos bore down on goal.
In a rare attack, Chesterfield won a corner that was cleared but returned quickly leaving Ben Rossiter with a sight of goal but his eyes lit up with excitement and he lost his composure when scuffing his shot and it dribbled wide.
Kamara had a shot on target that Chadwick scrambled wide unconvincingly before the first half drew to a close.
Six minutes after the break, Welling went ahead. Crossley Lema picked out Kamara, who brought it down excellently before spinning and blasting it home.
Muwonge and TJ Bramble both had efforts deflected wide as Welling continued to press and it wasn’t until seven minutes remained before the Wings made the game safe. Burchell’s free-kick was headed across goal by substitute Ike Orji. Muwonge harried Ryley D’Sena into making a mistake before firing an unstoppable shot into the net for the goal that his enterprise deserved.
Bloor will now look to his team to replicate the result in their upcoming Vanarama National League South games to claw their way into a position of safety.
PICTURES: DAVE BUDDEN