Former Millwall man sees red as Welling draw at Chelmsford City
BY DANIEL WELLING
Welling United battled to a 0-0 draw away to Chelmsford City in a physical National League South match short on high-quality finishing.
The Clarets started the better as Joe Anderson and Rhys Murphy combined on the left wing. The latter managed to get a strike away but straight at Dan Wilks from a tight angle.
Tom Wraight found joy on the home side’s opposite flank fashioning two chances in quick succession but shot off target through poor finishing.
Welling should have taken the lead midway through the first half, Brendan Kiernan’s free header flashed past Nathan McDonald’s post from a great Jack Jebb free-kick.
The home side were able to win several set plays in dangerous positions as the scrappy half wore on.
These largely came to nothing though with Wilks able to keep out the best chance of the match for Chelmsford – a close-range header by Scott Fenwick.
Just a minute after the restart, Charles Banya was livid when he did not win a penalty after seemingly being brought down in the box by Elliot Omozusi.
Chelmsford had their own appeal rejected. Substitute striker Shaun Batt went down under pressure from Anthony Acheampong as he went clean through on goal. Referee Dan Lamport waved play on, much to the chagrin of the home crowd.
The second half produced even fewer chances than the first, but the best fell to Welling’s captain David Ijaha.
Chelmsford couldn’t effectively clear their lines under pressure, but the midfielder skied the ball over the bar from close range.
After seeing another penalty appeal dismissed, former Millwall striker Batt lost his head in the final minute of the match launching a crunching challenge on Banya.