Welling blow two-goal lead to draw with Tonbridge Angels as Garrett Kelly sees red

BY MARK DOIG

It was hard to say whether it was a point won or two points lost as Welling United drew 2-2 at home to Tonbridge Angels.

Rod Stringer’s Wings were two up at the break but were pegged and had to settle for a point when reduced to ten men. However, having won at Slough Town on Saturday, Stringer will be happy to have moved four points nearer to his season’s target.

Having juggled his squad in recent games as he looked to find a winning formula, he only made one change to the team that won at Slough. Dave Winfield returned from his two-match suspension and replaced Teddy Perkins, who took a place on the substitute’s bench.

One recent criticism of Welling has been the failure of their centre-backs to chip in with goals from set pieces, but that was addressed when they went ahead in the eleventh minute. Sam Cornish’s deep corner picked out Alex Lankshear and his towering header gave Tonbridge goalkeeper Matthew Rowley no chance.

Chiori Johnson had a shot turned around the post, and Welling came close to making it two from the resultant corner. Again Cornish delivered and this time he picked out Jack Burchell. He headed goalwards. However, former Wing Charlie Pegrum was stationed on the goal-line and was able to nod it away.

Eight minutes after going ahead, Welling added a second when Johnson crossed from the right and Josh Redfearn stuck out his foot to guide it home and score his second goal in two starts.

Although Welling continued to enjoy the better of things, they struggled to make further chances, other than a Maxwell Statham shot that went just wide. When Tonbridge had possession, they found it even harder and were forced to pass backwards and sideways by the Welling team, who held their shape and remained patient.

At half time, Tonbridge manager Jay Saunders countered by making two substitutions, including ex-Charlton Athletic, Bromley and Welling midfielder Taylor Maloney, and changing their formation. His introduction almost paid dividends early on when his diagonal cross beat everyone and flew back out off the post.

Makise Evans shot over for the visitors before Burchell came agonisingly close to adding a third for the Wings. Cornish sent in a free-kick that was nodded on to the Welling centre-back, and his first-time side footer rolled inches wide of the far post.

On the hour mark, Tonbridge pulled one back when Liam Vincent struck a low free-kick into the bottom corner.

Ronny Nelson headed wide from a Maloney free-kick, but the Angels struggled to create chances from open play as the Wings defended resolutely. That changed ten minutes before the end when Garrett Kelly pulled back Jeremy Santos in the penalty area right in front of the referee. He pointed to the spot correctly, but it came as a surprise when he also dismissed Kelly. Vincent stepped up and fired home.

Despite being a man short, Welling defended well and Tonbridge only had one further opportunity when Pegrum fired over after Rhys Lovett saved from Evans.

There was a farcical moment in stoppage time when Welling were trying to bring on Ben Wells for Gene Kennedy. Fourth official Will Briers held up the numbers board and everyone stopped but referee Daniel Baines lost the plot and cautioned both a bemused Anthony Grant and Statham for delay of play. Shortly after, Tonbridge won a corner, but while they prepared to take it, he blew for full-time.

After the game, Stringer suggested that there were some tired legs in the team and that he may need to utilise other members of his squad when they visit Aveley on Friday.

PICTURES: DAVE BUDDEN