Former Millwall centre-back sees red but Welling draw 1-1 at Concord Rangers

BY MARK DOIG

Despite being reduced to 10 men early on, Welling United ended Concord Rangers’ three-match winning streak with a point at the Aspect Arena.

Warren Feeney’s Wings were well in control until former Millwall centre-back Sid Nelson was shown two yellow cards in a three-minute spell. Despite the setback, Welling were still good value for the point and might have returned over the Queen Elisabeth Bridge with all three.

They started well and went close when Stefan Payne met Taylor Maloney’s corner with a near-post header that came back off the bar. In the 18th minute, former Wing Mo Bettamer broke down the right wing, got past Nelson’s challenge on the right wing and pulled it back to Ricky Modeste. He couldn’t get it from under his feet and Welling played it out. When it next went out of play, the referee went back and cautioned Nelson.

Two minutes later, Nelson and Ryan Blackman challenged for a loose ball on the edge of the penalty area and the referee deemed the Woking loanee to have fouled the former Welling captain and showed him a second yellow card.

Nothing came of the Concord free-kick and Welling went ahead four minutes later. Payne showed brilliant close control to bring it down and lay it into the path of Maloney and he gave Concord Rangers goalkeeper Mitch Beeney no chance with a clean strike.

Eleven minutes later, Concord were back on level terms. Another ex-Welling player, D’sean Theobalds, passed across the penalty area. Bettamer’s attempted backheel failed to find the target but found Louis Ramsay, and he fired into the roof of the net while Welling appealed for offside.

Ben Williamson, playing in an unaccustomed midfield position, had a header cleared off the line by James Dunne and Theobalds had an effort saved by Myles Roberts as Concord finished the half on top.

At the break, Welling regrouped and came out strongly. Payne’s low shot was blocked out by Beeney’s legs before Welling debutant Cameron Andrews was brought down on the edge of the penalty area, but Maloney’s free-kick flew over.

Maloney had another effort that looked as if it would trouble Beeney, but Payne couldn’t get out of the way, and it struck him when in an offside position.

Saleem Akanbi was allowed to break away when a handball by Ramsay on the edge of his own penalty area went unpunished, but the Concord substitute was unable to take full advantage by hitting the target. Beeney then made a mess of a Medy Elito shot and was relieved to see his fumble go outside the post.

Maloney had a late chance after getting on the end of an Andrews cross however his header rippled the net on the roof of the net.

Late on, Roberts had to claw out an overhit Akanbi cross that dipped late before making a more straightforward save from Nana Kyei’s header deep into stoppage time,

PICTURES: DAVE BUDDEN

Main Pic: Taylor Maloney celebrates with provider Stefan Payne