Welling become the first away side to take points off top of the table Ebbsfleet United
BY MARK DOIG
Kai McKenzie-Lyle’s stoppage-time penalty save ensured that Welling United became the first away team to take a point from Ebbsfleet United this season.
It also ensured that the Wings maintained their unbeaten league record when playing on the road despite finishing the match with just nine players on the pitch.
Partly due to injuries and illnesses, and partly as a response to their mediocre performance seven days earlier, Warren Feeney made changes to the starting line-up. Kai McKenzie-Lyle, Yaser Kasim, and Sid Nelson were all brought in for full first-team league debuts. Medy Elito returned after being out with Covid, and Stefan Payne came back following his one-game suspension.
Payne headed a Kasim corner wide before Mark Cousins did well to tip over a Manny Parry header as Welling started sharply and it came as no surprise when they went ahead. Elito found space on the left and played it into Ade Azeez. He found Payne who laid it back to Kasim and his first touch opened the angle allowing him to smash it beyond Cousins and into the net.
Jamie Sendles-White hit a first-time shot just beyond the angle of the bar and post before the complexion of the game was changed seven minutes before half time. Payne expected to be awarded a free kick, voiced his displeasure too aggressively when nothing was given and was dismissed.
As Welling tried to regroup, Toby Edser struck the base of the post before Ebbsfleet levelled in the fifth minute of four added when Craig Tanner shot home from twenty yards.
At the break, Feeney resisted the temptation to make changes but was able to reorganise his team.
Once play restarted, chances were rare as Welling defended stoutly and frustrated their hosts and they might have gone back ahead. Cousins struggled to clear and Kasim struck it first time, only for Christian N’Guessan to make a painful block. Dominic Poleon came close at the other end when shooting inches wide having received it from Rakish Bingham with his back to goal.
Injuries and substitutions continued to break up play, which worked in Welling’s favour, but the task got harder for them with seven minutes remaining. Dunne, who had already been cautioned, was deemed to have impeded the referee and was shown a second yellow card.
Amadou Kassarate made a block from Luke O’Neill’s effort before nine minutes of stoppage time were signalled. Antony Papadopoulos beat down a Darren McQueen shot, and chaos ensued in the penalty area with defenders throwing their bodies into the line.
More than nine minutes had passed when Ebbsfleet had one last chance. Poleon miscontrolled it, the ball hit Sendles-White on the thigh, and then his arm and a penalty was awarded. Bingham stepped up and struck his attempt well, but McKenzie-Lyle guessed correctly and made a full-length diving save in the 101st minute.
That was the last incident of an eventful match, and it wasn’t long before the Welling players were celebrating with their supporters.
PICTURES: DAVE BUDDEN