Further Bank Holiday joy for Welling United after victory at Tonbridge

BY MARK DOIG

There was further Bank Holiday joy for Welling United when they followed up Saturday’s win with a well-deserved victory at Tonbridge Angels.

Having beaten Havant and Waterlooville at the start of the weekend, they claimed their first success on the road two days later, with their first clean sheet of the campaign for good measure.

Jack Burchell scored the only goal becoming Welling’s seventh different goalscorer so far this term.

Jephte Tanga was a real handful for the Angels, giving Jernade Meade a torrid afternoon. An early foul by the former Dartford full-back on Tanga was just outside the penalty area. James Vaughan delivered the free kick which was just too high for Dominic Odusanya whose header flew wide.

Antony Papadopoulos found plenty of space in midfield and had a shot taken comfortably by Jonathan Henly before his next effort drew a more difficult save at the cost of a corner. That corner resulted in Welling’s goal. Vaughan delivered deep and Burchell rose to head home.

Tanga had a shot deflected over then another foul on him, this time by Jordan Higgs, brought about a great chance for the Wings to extend their lead. Papadopoulos hit it hard and low and Henly dived full length to save. Although Lewis White was first to the rebound, it came out at an awkward height and he was unable to turn it home.

Just before half-time, the Angels came close when Stefan Payne made a chance for himself and shot low; however, Ben Winterbottom got down sharply and made an excellent save.

Ruben Soares-Junior headed over early in the second half as the hosts made the Welling defence work a little harder. That didn’t stop the Wings from getting forward and Papadopoulos had a further effort saved after it took a deflection.

Payne created another opportunity for himself but shot straight at Winterbottom before Papadopoulos surged forward yet again only to see his shot pushed around the post for another corner. Vaughan delivered to the far post where Crossley Lema met it but headed wide.

Although Tonbridge tried to press forward their crosses were either claimed by Winterbottom, headed out by Burchell or Lachlan Byrd, or sailed harmlessly behind. At the other end, the pace of substitutes David Kamara and Kain Adom caused havoc on the counter-attack and the latter might have made the points certain when he tried to slide it past Henly.

Tariq Hinds blasted Tonbridge’s last hope well over and moments later, Welling manager Danny Bloor and his team were able to celebrate with the Wings’ supporters.

PICTURES: DAVE BUDDEN