Welling United pointless in National League after stoppage-time sickener against Chelmsford
BY MARK DOIG
A Chelmsford City goal in the ninth minute of second-half stoppage time foiled Welling United’s hopes of claiming their first league point of the season.
On paper, playing three and losing three represents a poor start to the season, but the National League standings do not tell the full story.
There can be no complaints about their defeat at Truro City on the opening day but their home game with Hemel Hempstead Town on Saturday had nil-nil written all over it until a late and highly contentious penalty award went against them.
Then on Tuesday evening they got sucker-punched when throwing players forward searching for a winner and came away with nothing despite having the majority of the chances.
For the game with Chelmsford, Welling manager Danny Bloor made two changes from the team that lost to Hemel Hempstead giving a debut to Lachlan Byrd and a first league start to David Kamara. Alex MacAllister and Antony Papadopoulos dropped to the bench.
Kamara had a chance to mark his debut with a goal early on. Despite being manhandled just inside the Chelmsford half, he broke free and surged towards the goal. However, Chelmsford goalkeeper Josh Oluwayemi spotted the danger quickly and rushed out to make a block tackle.
The 17-year-old striker was involved in Welling’s next big chance too. Lively Jephte Tanga played him in and Jazzie Barnum-Bobb felled him inside the penalty area. Former Dulwich Hamlet player Will Wood stepped up to take it, but Oluwayemi read it and dived the right way to make the save.
Neither side fashioned another clearcut opportunity until early in the second period when Josh Castiglione headed over for the Clarets from close range.
Tanga again caused problems on the right wing and tried to catch Oluwayemi out at the near post but it clipped the wrong side of the upright on its way into the side netting.
Just after the hour mark, Welling went behind. Mohammed Dabre found space down the right hand side and crossed low for Charlie Ruff to steer home. It could have been worse for the Wings when Chelmsford had another opportunity. Ben Brookes lost his marker and looked sure to score when meeting Dabre’s cross but Winterbottom got across to make a brilliant save.
It was then Welling’s turn to go close when Kareem Isiaka was sent clear down the left hand side and cut in to go past Oluwayemi. Although he had a sight at goal he was off balance when shooting and couldn’t get enough power on it, allowing Frankie Terry time to get back and hack it off the line.
Seven minutes were left on the clock when Welling levelled deservedly. James Vaughan did superbly to cross for Kain Adom. The young striker then showed great composure to make space for himself before firing home from the edge of the penalty area.
Amadou Kassarate then managed to get himself dismissed for a needless second yellow card but the numbers were evened up soon after when Terry was shown a straight red card for going through Tanga with a robust challenge that was out of control.
Under the new regulations, more time is added for stoppages. Seven additional minutes had been played in the first period, and another seven were indicated at the end of the second half. Midway through the extra minutes Chelmsford came close when Castiglione struck the post and Brookes followed up but blasted over. There was a break in proceedings which meant that further time would be added. Welling won a corner in the eighth additional minute and sent bodies forward looking for a winner. That did not work out for them when it was cleared and the Clarets broke away to allow Castiglione to win it in the ninth.
Bloor’s team has another long trip on Saturday when they visit Taunton Town hoping to get some points on the board.
PICTURES: DAVE BUDDEN