Welling United knocked out of FA Trophy as AFC Wimbledon loanee nets winning goal
BY MARK DOIG
It went from bad to worse for Welling United when Southern League Premier Division South side Havant & Waterlooville won at Park View Road to knock the Wings out of the F.A. Trophy.
Once again, Rod Stringer made five changes as he tried to find his best available side. He was without captain Dave Winfield, who was serving his first game of a two-match suspension, and Dan Martin through injury. Anthony Grant, Martell Taylor-Crossdale, and Zain Walker also missed out. Garrett Kelly was given his second start for the Wings and the captain’s armband.
In the early stages, Welling looked comfortable without creating chances. Their first shot on target came, eventually, from Gene Kennedy with a sweet strike straight into the arms of Ben Dudzinski.
There had been little action in Welling’s half when the Hawks stunned the hosts in the twenty-seventh minute. A long cross-field pass sent Keane Anderson clear and although Daniel Jinadu did well to keep out his shot, Callum Kealy was first to the rebound and he tucked it home.
That appeared to drain the confidence out of the Welling side and Anderson headed wide before Jinadu made a brilliant double save just before the half-time break to keep out Brendan Willson’s header and Kealy’s follow-up.
At half time, Welling manager Rod Stringer was forced into making a change with Kennedy unable to continue, and Josh Redfearn was introduced for just his second Wings appearance.
Kelly hit a clean shot that Dudzinski dived to save and hold well before Jinadu did well to smother when Willson got onto the end of a clever free-kick move.
Midway through the second half, the visitors scored again when AFC Wimbledon loanee Harry Sidwell’s strike appeared harmless, but it somehow found its way over a diving Jinadu and into the net.
Paul Osew got to the bye-line for Welling and pulled it back to Kelly who looked sure to score only to look on in astonishment when Dudzinski somehow turned his shot onto the post and out. Redfearn then went for a first-time lob, but it sailed over.
Jinadu saved a low shot from Kealy before Welling again went close. Kelly clipped it across and Anointed Chukwu headed towards goal where Willson cleared off the line.
Alex Lankshear gave the Wings hope when he headed home his second goal in senior football after Dudzinski could only palm a cross out with seven minutes remaining.
Chukwu had a chance to take the game to penalties, but Dudzinski put out a strong hand to keep his low shot out with a stunning save.
Stringer will be hoping that goalkeeper Rhys Lovett is fit to return on Tuesday evening for the Wings’ important home match with Weymouth and will be monitoring injuries incurred by Kennedy and Zain Walker against Havant.
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