Eastleigh 1-3 Welling United (From News Shopper)

Eastleigh 1-3 Welling United

12:55am Thursday 18th March 2010 in

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UNBEATEN on their travels for five months Welling United continued their excellent away form with victory at Eastleigh on Wednesday night.

When Andy Ford resigned as manager, Welling had picked up just four points out of eighteen away from Park View Road, and also bowed out of the FA Cup. Since losing at Chelmsford City on 17th October the win at Eastleigh took the undefeated run to eleven league games.

Chances were few and far between in the first half as Eastleigh frustrated their visitors with their high offside trap aided by an eager referee’s assistant.

Jay Folkes headed wide for the hosts from a cross by former Welling and Bromley wide man Peter Adeniyi before the Spitfires goalkeeper Billy Lumley was out quickly to thwart Tommy Whitnell.

Michael Deane’s free kick just evaded Lee Clarke then Eastleigh came desperately close as Richard Gillespie’s header came back off the crossbar.

Veteran Tony Taggart hit a shot that was claimed by Charlie Mitten but neither side was really able to get a grip on the game.

Just as the first half appeared to be petering out, Welling drew first blood.

Jamie Day’s free kick was not cleared and Jack Parkinson was on hand to flick the ball into the net.

After the break Welling were dominant for the first twenty minutes.

Sam Hurrell and Whitnell combined to set up Clarke but his crisp finish counted for nothing as play was pulled back for another offside.

Hurrell then burst through and shot just wide and Deane’s deflected shot was gathered by Lumley.

Parkinson’s distribution from the back was outstanding and one raking delivery to the excellent Loui Fazakerley was the pass of the day.

Warren Goodhind made a brilliant tackle when Hurrell looked certain to score and Parkinson’s shot from a corner was saved by Lumley on the goal line.

Eastleigh came back into the game and Sam Cutler made a good tackle to stop Shaun McAuley.

Mitten saved from Luke Wilkinson and Welling’s failure to score the important second goal looked as if it may prove expensive.

In Eastleigh’s next attack, in the 75th minute, this proved to be the case Gillespie headed home Taggart’s cross.

Rather than felling sorry for themselves Welling came back strongly and Dean Cracknell should probably have done better with a header from substitute Tony Finn’s cross after good work from Graeme Andrews.

On 79 minutes Welling regained the lead. A long ball from Day found Whitnell who finally managed to beat the offside trap and Welling’s leading scorer lobbed six foot five inch Lumley for a cool finish before celebrating with the ecstatic Wings supporters.

Superb control by Clarke from Whitnell’s pass almost produced another goal but the striker pulled his shot wide.

Clarke was not to be disappointed for long as Goodhind got in a tangle from a long ball by Deane and the experienced front-man held off Luke Wilkinson and shot beyond the helpless Lumley.

Welling United: Mitten, Cutler, Deane, Day, Andrews, Parkinson, Fazakerley, Clarke, Whitnell, Cracknell, Hurrell (Finn 72). Subs not used: Hobbs, Sagna, Omogbehin, Bakare.