Welling United knock Taunton Town out of FA Trophy after penalty shootout

BY MARK DOIG

A drama-filled ending saw Welling United progress on penalties in the FA Trophy at the expense of Taunton Town.

Originally, the game should have been played at Welling on Saturday, but bad weather meant that it was postponed to a Tuesday night game under the floodlights. The visitors came into the game off the back of four defeats in which they had failed to register a goal while the Wings had been well-beaten at Braintree in their last outing.

Austen Booth almost ended the Peacocks’ goal famine in the opening minutes when heading against the bar. The hosts then created their first chance when Taunton goalkeeper Dan Lavercombe could only push a Crossley Lema shot out as far as Josh Chambers but it came at an awkward height and he couldn’t hook it home.

Javarn Pitterson, in the Welling goal, had to hold his position when Ross Stearn blasted a free-kick at him. Although he couldn’t hold it, he knocked it down and caught it as it bounced up ahead of the following-up strikers.

Kain Adom hit a low shot from the edge of the penalty area that required Lavercombe to get down sharply to save before Ollie Chamberlain had a chance at the other end when sneaking in late, however he was unable to force it home.

One minute before half time, Adom scored a contender for goal of the season. A rebound off Booth fell into his path 25 yards out and he thrashed an unstoppable first-time volley into the back of the net.

Seven minutes after the break, Taunton ended their goal drought from the penalty spot. In trying to hack away a loose ball, Pitterson only managed to bring down Chamberlain inside the six -ard box. Stearn stepped up and converted.

Zac Smith was off target for Taunton, then Josh Chambers hit a shot for Welling that struck a defender and went wide. However, the visitors had the best chance when the Wings defence stopped, expecting an offside flag. Stearn burst through but made a mess of it, allowing the defenders to get back and crowd him out.

As the game moved towards the latter stages, Taunton substitute Mal Linton shot towards the bottom corner but Pitterson got down to make a smart save.

Five minutes remained when Welling thought that they had scored the winner. Lema charged through before being brought down inside the penalty area. Tristan Abrahams put it on the spot and fired high into the net.

However, the Wings were unable to hold on and four minutes later a goalmouth scramble ended with Linton finishing from inside the six yard box.

That appeared to galvanise the visitors and they had four chances in the six minutes of stoppage time, the best of which was when Pitterson had to make a good save to thwart Stearn.

There is no extra time in this year’s FA Trophy so it went straight to penalties. Both teams converted their first four, before each side were unsuccessful with their fifth. Three more penalties were put away by the two sides before the ninth produced a victor. Pitterson made the crucial save, keeping out Booth, then Rob Howard made no mistake to send Welling through.

Welling will be at home again in the third round when National League North club Brackley will be the opposition.

PICTURES: DAVE BUDDEN