Welling return from Dorchester empty handed (From News Shopper)

Dorchester Town 2-1 Welling United

1:17am Sunday 30th September 2012 in Sport By Mark Doig

FAILURE to make the most of their dominance cost Welling as they got caught by a 95th minute sucker punch at Dorchester Town.

At the start of the day, the hosts were in second place in the league whilst Welling were third, and for the first hour, the teams seemed evenly match.

The visitors bossed the last thirty minutes, however, but resolute defending and a little luck kept Dorchester in the game until they broke away and scored a last gasp winner.

Kiernan Hughes-Mason tested veteran goalkeeper Jason Matthews early on with a fizzer that the Magpies’ custodian tipped over.

Nathan Walker showed his intent with a nasty foul on Jamie Day that should have earned him a yellow card before Charlie Clough showed the danger Dorchester could cause from dead ball situations when heading wide from a long Lewis Morgan free kick.

Another Walker foul, this time on Ross Lafayette, gave Welling a chance to test Matthews again, but Day hit the free kick straight at the defensive wall.

Loui Fazakerley's superb pass found Lafayette whose shot was saved by Matthews at the near post.

Scott Kinch brought down a cross field ball on his chest before volleying over but a booking for Jake Gallagher seemed harsh following a series of Dorchester fouls that had failed to produce a similar punishment from referee Daniel Cook, Morgan in particular having been lucky to escape censure for a number of fouls.

Exeter loanee Jamie Reid cut in for Dorchester but scooped his shot wide but at the other end Dorchester continued to put themselves under pressure by conceding free kicks.

When Clough’s foul on Kiernan Hughes-Mason gave Welling another opportunity to put the ball into the penalty area, Jack Obersteller’s delivery was met by Ben Martin who was unable to hit the target with his header.

Gallagher hit a shot that was just out of the reach of Theo Fairweather-Johnson when a touch would have been all that was necessary to put the ball beyond Matthews.

Reid shot high and wide before his on-loan Exeter City team mate Jamie Gleeson put Dorchester ahead. Welling goalkeeper Sam Mott was sucked out of his goal when trying to close down Ben Watson and when the ball came loose, Gleeson thumped the ball into the empty net.

Fraser Franks, in an advanced position, blocked a Neil Martin attempted clearance and took the ball to the bye line before pulling the ball back for Hughes-Mason but his flicked attempt went beyond the far post. Kinch became the second Wing to be cautioned shortly before half time.

Welling’s Martin defended well to head a long range Dorchester effort over before Morgan committed one foul too many, this time on Day, and was booked.

Dorchester had an escape when Obersteller’s cross looked to be perfect for Kinch, but a clear push on him was not punished by Mr Cook and the ball floated away harmlessly.

After Obersteller hit a shot that was headed away by Clough, Dorchester full back Martin was booked for a foul then Mott made a good save to thwart Walker.

Just one minute after Harry Baker had replaced Fairweather-Johnson, Welling drew level. Lafayette whipped in a superb cross that captain Mark Jermyn, under pressure from Gallagher, could only bundle into his own net.

Mott made another good save before Welling upped the tempo and took the game to their hosts.

Finally, another foul by the uncompromising Walker earned him a booking but Lafayette soon joined him in Mr Cook’s book for a push near the corner flag.

An Obersteller free kick was headed over by Hughes-Mason before the former Grimsby Town striker turned provider in finding Lafayette who made space for himself skilfully before firing over.

Baker became the next player to be booked but he then beat Martin and played the ball across just out of the reach of Hughes-Mason who had shaken off his marker.

Franks surged forward and fired over from long range before the Magpies scored a late and unlikely winner.

Although three additional minutes were signalled, an injury to Walker in stoppage time prolonged the game and Clough won the game for Dorchester from close range after two further minutes.

Welling United: Mott, Fazakerley, Obersteller, Day, Franks, Martin, Kinch, Gallagher, Hughes-Mason (Main 90), Lafayette, Fairweather-Johnson (Baker 62). Unused substitutes Williams, Hudson, Turner.