Welling leave it late to claim the three points (From News Shopper)

Welling 3-1 Havant & W'ville

9:00am Wednesday 22nd February 2012 in Sport By Mark Doig

AFTER three and a half weeks without a league match a rusty Welling United took a long time to find their form but there persistence paid dividends as they defeated Havant and Waterlooville.

Before the game Welling’s supporters arranged an impromptu collection raising £140 for the family of the Truro City supporter who died following a car crash on her way home from Dover Athletic on Saturday.

Manager Jamie Day, one of three Welling players missing through suspension, would have not expected his defence to be equally charitable in the second minute. A needless foul resulted in a free kick that found Perry Ryan in acres of space to head home beyond Craig Holloway making his debut in the Welling goal.

Ben Greenhalgh, making his first full league appearance for Welling, used trickery to make room to chip towards the far post and Ryan Woodford, at the far post, was relieved to see his deflected header come back off the crossbar.

After fifteen minutes Scott Jones produced what was probably the worst challenge seen at Park View Road this season when high and late on Loui Fazakerley. Incredibly, referee Carl Brook only deemed the horror tackle worthy of a yellow card and the assailant did not even go over to the Welling full back, who was stretchered off, to apologise.

Scott Kinch, came on to make his Welling debut moving in to midfield as Andy Sambrook dropped back to cover at right back.

Kinch had an effort saved by Lyall Beazley after the Hawks’ goalkeeper had punched the ball out to him but Welling struggled to create opportunities against a stubborn and physical Havant team.

Lee Clarke made room for himself before shooting wide then a Dean Cracknell free kick, contested by Anthony Acheampong, fell for Clarke who hooked over.

Half an hour later than he should have been sent off, Jones was dismissed for a second yellow card awarded for a pathetic dive.

Cracknell was withdrawn at half time as Day went for the more attacking option of Harry Baker who made his first appearance for Welling following his move from Dover.

Baker had an early goalbound attempt but his chip did not trouble Beazley too much.

Now playing at a higher tempo and with more urgency, Havant were reduced to fouling and time wasting at every opportunity.

Paul Hinshelwood and Steve Ramsey were cautioned for fouls on Greenhalgh and Baker respectively as the visitors struggled to contain Welling’s wide men.

Ben Martin put in a delightful cross that Luis Cumbers met with a diving header but Beazley made a fine save. Kinch was cautioned for being slightly late when attempting to go for the loose ball.

Loick Pires was then denied by Beazley and the near post at the cost of a corner as Welling continued to probe for an opening.

Cumbers was cautioned for Welling as he attempted to clip a loose ball before Ramsey hit a long free kick wide.

Holloway was called upon to make an excellent save from Ollie Palmer as the visitors looked to claim an unlikely second goal.

Captain Sam Pearce was the next Havant player to be booked before Beazley made a miraculous save to deny Welling an equaliser.

Greenhalgh broke down the left before pulling the ball back to Clarke. His shot was deflected to Cumbers who forced the ball forward and Pires looked certain to score only to see his shot blocked by the Havant custodian who forced the ball over the bar.

After Cumbers had another shot saved by Beazley, Welling finally broke the Hawks’ stubborn resistance.

Although Mr Brook turned down Welling’s initial handball appeal, Pires played on and was clipped by Pearce at the cost of a penalty.

Playing gamesmanship tactics to the limit, Sammy Igoe delayed the spot kick for as long as he could by not leaving the penalty area until cautioned.

Eventually, Clarke stepped up to take the kick and although Beazley did well to parry it out, Baker was first to the loose ball and he fired home for an 86th minute leveller.

One minute later the hosts went ahead. Cumbers found room down the left and pulled the ball back to Greenhalgh who struck his shot sweetly from 20 yards into the bottom corner.

In the final minute, Welling extended their lead when the impressive Greenhalgh cut in from the left only to see his tight shot come back off the near and then far post before Cumbers forced the ball over the line.

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Welling United: Holloway, Fazakerley (Kinch 17), Obersteller, Sambrook, Acheampong, Martin, Cracknell (Baker 46), Clarke, Cumbers, Greenhalgh, Pires. Unused substitutes: Flack, Kensington, Cullum.