Sheringham denies AFC Wimbledon

CHARLIE Sheringham equalised twice for Welling on Saturday afternoon as the Wings earned a hard-fought point against the Wombles in front of a huge turnout by Park View Road standards.

The point was no less than the hosts deserved, a view shared by assistant manager Jimmy Dack.

He said: “I thought we played well as a team but we gave them their goals whereas we worked hard for ours, so that’s the only disappointing thing that they didn’t have to work too hard to score their goals.

“The gaffer is a very astute football man and he pointed out one or two things at half-time which I can’t really go into, but he seemed to straighten the boys out.

“We had two 18-year-olds out there today in Jack Parkinson and Sanchez Ming.

“Potential is a big word, but if they keep listening and learning then they will go on and do quite well.

“But they are nowhere near the finished article yet.”

However, Dack was not so happy with the performance of the officials.

“When you get the clubs with the bigger crowds against you, the referees get a little bit influenced by them and they have got to be a bit stronger,” he added.

Unlike their opponents, the Wings do not have the financial power to acquire strength in depth and injuries meant the home side were down to the bare bones to even fill up the bench.

Dack said: “Apart from Adam Gross today, we had four young lads on the bench who haven’t played much first team football.

“Mucu got injured in the warm-up again. He’s having a really tough time and we don’t know when we are going to get him playing again because we all know what a great talent he is.

“Ellis Green has got a little niggle on his knee, Dorian Smith is a bit more long-term, Richard Stevens had a tweak on his knee and Graeme Andrews is nearly back, so it’s not a major concern.

“There are one or two who will be back soon, but the young kids have done really well and we are pleased with them.

“Declan Molyneux and Ian Starkey have done a fantastic job in the reserves and these boys are pushing on now and we are looking quite strong.”

The Wombles took the lead after just five minutes when Jon Main’s 20-yard snap-shot rolled into the bottom corner past the scrambling Jamie Turner.

Former Wing Danny Kedwell missed two chances for the visitors before they conceded the equaliser.

Sheringham followed up Tony Sinclair’s deflected shot, which was juggled by keeper Andy Little for the striker to poke into the back of the net on 23 minutes.

Just a minute later, a free-kick from Chris Hussey was headed home with ease by the unmarked centre-back Ben Judge to put the Dons back ahead.

Welling got a break just before half-time when Main attempted to lob Turner, but the effort agonisingly hit the bar.

The second Welling equaliser came six minutes into the second half when Sheringham was found by a cross from Lee Blackburn and he headed home to secure a point for the Wings.

The Wings now turn their attention the FA Trophy and the visit of AFC Totton in the FA Trophy third qualifying round on Saturday.

Dack said: “It’ll be a tough game because we aren’t good enough to take our foot off the pedal and start passing the ball around.

“We are all about work-rate, togetherness and commitment and that’s what we have got to keep doing.”

Welling: Turner, Ming, Cobbs, Parkinson (Gross 79), Matthew McEntegart, Sinclair, Fazackerley, Blackburn, Baker, Sheringham, Johnson. Subs not used: Orlando Smith, Michael McEntegart, Morgan, Richards. Att: 1,625