Wings bow out of FA Trophy after 3-0 loss at Aldershot Town

BY MARK DOIG

Defeat at in-form Aldershot Town ended Welling United’s FA Trophy campaign.

After the game fell victim to a frozen pitch on the previous Saturday, Welling had a Tuesday evening visit to North Hampshire. In the first half, the Wings restricted the hosts to long-range shots and enjoyed an equal share of possession without being able to create opportunities for themselves. However, once they went behind 10 minutes after the break, they were mostly on the back foot. Two further goals in the closing stages ensured that they would not progress to a home tie with Leiston.

Kai McKenzie-Lyle made an early low diving save from a shot by Justin Amaluzor from the edge of the penalty area. At the other end Amadou Kassarate met a Taylor Maloney corner and his header went just over, rippling the roof of the net.

Ody Alfa twisted and turned before shooting towards the near post from outside the penalty area and again McKenzie-Lyle got down well to save before Chi Ezennolim cut in and shot just wide of the near post.

Amaluzor had the last half chance of the first period, but Ezennolim got back well to block, and it looped up for McKenzie-Lyle to claim.

Ross McNeilly made a substitution for Aldershot at the break however it was Welling who came close when Daniel Nkrumah, on full debut, was brought down. Taylor Maloney whipped in the free-kick from wide on the left and it beat goalkeeper Luca Ashby-Hammond but came back out off the bar.

Moments later, the hosts went ahead. Ollie Harfield sent over a cross and Inih Effiong got up to glance a header inside the far post.

Joe Partington hit a free-kick wide before McKenzie-Lyle made a stunning reaction save to thwart Harrison Panayiotou.

Although Aldershot were now well on top, Welling had their moments and were still in the game when only one behind. Maloney sidefooted over from the edge of the area and Nkrumah burst through but couldn’t get the ball from under his feet to get a shot away.

Ryan Glover finished the contest with one minute remaining when leaping unopposed from a Harfield corner to head inside the near post.

In the final minute of injury time, the Shots added a third when Effiong crossed, and Ben De Lacy-Turner’s low glancing volley went in off the far post.

PICTURES: DAVE BUDDEN

Main Pic: Stefan Payne fires in a shot