Late leveller denies Welling United a derby win as they draw 2-2 with Dartford

BY MARK DOIG

In a combative local derby Welling United were denied the bragging rights over Dartford after conceding a late equaliser.

Dartford had won every game that they had played this season against teams from Kent and South London, including 4-0 and 4-1 victories over league leaders Ebbsfleet United. Combined with Welling’s home form this season, and their record against Dartford in recent years, including a thumping at Princes Park earlier this season, many of their supporters would have taken a point before the game.

But Welling fought toe-to-toe and were arguably the better team. They have now taken points from all of the clubs in the top three in National League South and will feel that this was two points dropped rather than a point won.

Warren Feeney brought George Alexander in on-loan from Bromley during the week and after just one session training with the team, he was given a league debut at the expense of Charlton Athletic loanee Dylan Gavin. Alexander was one of two sons of former Millwall strikers to get on the scoresheet with Dartford’s Charlie Sheringham cancelling out Alexander’s first-half goal.

Welling had the better of the chances in the first half. Taylor Maloney had a low shot saved by former Welling goalkeeper Dan Wilks, Medy Elito’s first-time effort was cleared off the line by Tom Bonner and Ade Azeez’s header from Aaron Powell’s deep cross struck the base of the post.

Azeez was then frustrated when sent clean through only for the advantage law to be ignored when the referee was too quick to blow his whistle for a foul on a Welling team-mate.

Connor Essam tried an overhead kick for Dartford that went wide before Alexander showed him how to do it two minutes before half time. Maloney’s corner was headed back by Kodi Lyons-Foster and Alexander’s acrobatic effort flew in.

As expected, Dartford came out purposefully after the break. After shooting wide from 25 yards, Sheringham levelled against one of his former clubs. Samir Carruthers’ shot was blocked by Lyons-Foster as far as the former England striker’s son and he moved it to his left before firing home.

Expectations from the away supporters that the visitors would kick on were stifled when Welling went back ahead.

Maloney intercepted a sloppy pass and sent Azeez clear. His early strike thumped the underside of the bar and came down over the line before backspin brought it back into play. The assistant referee flagged immediately and Welling celebrated while a few Dartford players made a token gesture of bemoaning the official.

After that, the game became scrappy with constant stoppages for soft free-kicks, needless yellow cards for both sides, and substitutions.

Gavin came on for a tiring Alexander and had an on target shot blocked by Tom Bonner, then Maloney shot wide from 20 yards.

However, with seven minutes remaining, Dartford levelled. Carruthers, Malachi Napa and Jernade Meade put together a quick passing move between them that enabled Carruthers to slide Napa in to tuck just inside the far post.

One week earlier at Chelmsford City, goalkeeper Myles Roberts made a brilliant late save to preserve what Welling had, and he repeated the act when Dartford looked for a winner by keeping out Napa’s close-range shot. Pierre Fonkeu had an opportunity to claim all three points for the visitors in stoppage time but fired wide.

That would have been unjust and although it was a good point for Welling, they ended the game frustrated at not having ended their long winless run against the Darts.

PICTURES: DAVE BUDDEN

Main Pic: Ade Azeez points to the supporters