Gallagher winner enables Welling to extend lead (From News Shopper)

Welling United 3-2 Maidenhead United

8:38pm Saturday 2nd March 2013 in Non-League Football By Mark Doig

INCREDIBLE scenes greeted Welling United's 93rd minute winner against Maidenhead United.

Victory for the Wings came after coming back twice against a hard working Magpies team and allowed them to open up a two point lead at the top of the league.

Joe Healy's injury caused him to miss his first game since September, whilst De'Reece Vanderhyde was absent and Kiernan Hughes-Mason was left out as three changes were made to the team that lost to Weston-super-Mare.

Lee Clarke, Fraser Franks and Kurtis Guthrie started in their places whilst bench places were taken by the returning Barney Williams and new signing Giannoulis Fakinos .

Maidenhead came out strongly and could have taken an early lead when Harry Pritchard's great work down the left wing enabled him to pull the ball back to David Pratt who side-footed wide of the far post.

Anthony Acheampong had to make a headed clearance before Kinch showed his defensive abilities when making a vital tackle at the cost of a corner as a poor back pass threatened to cause the Wings' defence embarrassment.

Guthrie produced something out of nothing with skill by the touchline that enabled him to burst into the area but shouts for a penalty for Alfie Mawson's risky tackle did not impress referee Wayne Porter.

Former Wing, Leon Soloman, sent a delightful ball down the wing to Pritchard, but although beyond the back four, the Magpies' wide man failed to pick out a team-mate with his strong cross.

Jake Gallagher found space from a good Guthrie knock down but his effort from twenty five yards flew narrowly wide with Billy Lumley well beaten in the Maidenhead goal.

Michael Pook was cautioned for a cynical foul on Gallagher before a Jamie Day effort just failed to hit the target with Lumley again struggling.

Sam Mott made a superb reaction save from Mark Nisbet however the raised assistant referee's flag meant that even had he scored, the goal would not have stood.

Ross Lafayette did well to lay the ball back to Clarke, but the Welling captain's shot was blocked even though it appeared to be going wide.

It came as no surprise when the visitors took a deserved lead just before half time. Clever play by Chris Flood gave Pratt the chance to turn and fire in a shot that gave Mott no chance.

After a 15 minute delay caused by Mr Porter's inability to continue, and the search for someone to deputise for Paul Evans who relinquished his flag for a whistle, the second period began with Welling playing at a much higher tempo.

Once again, Guthrie posed danger when his powerful header was palmed out by Lumley and a last ditch tackle thwarted Kinch as he closed in to finish.

Jack Obersteller caused chaos with a break into the box then a Lafayette pull back was scrambled away by Pook.

Day broke through but his shot was blocked away for a corner however Welling weren't to be denied as Obersteller's delivery was met by a towering Ben Martin header that gave Lumley no chance.

Lafayette brought down a deep cross before chipping a cross that clipped the top of the bar then Guthrie's great turn gave him a chance to get a shot in that was saved by Lumley.

Despite the better second half showing from Welling, the visitors were not out of the game and Mott was called upon to make a magnificent full stretch save from Flood's free kick before they regained their lead in slightly fortunate circumstances.

Pritchard's corner appeared to evade everyone and crossed the line after striking the inside of the far post.

Hughes-Mason replaced Kinch before the game re-started and he was in the game immediately, combining well with Clarke to create an opportunity for Guthrie but the Wings' front man was denied by an excellent save.

Soloman became the second Maidenhead player to be cautioned for constant back chat to the referee and substitute assistant before Hughes-Mason and Guthrie combined to create a chance for Clarke to stab over.

Clarke wasn't to be denied for too much longer and he met Obersteller's free kick with a superb header inside the far post fifteen minutes from the end.

Substitute Reece Tison-Lascaris shot over for Maidenhead before the visitors came close to going ahead for the third time.

Breaking from a Welling attack, Pratt was foiled by another excellent Mott save and Hughes-Mason's selfless back-tracking enabled him to thump the loose ball away.

Three minutes into injury time, Welling snatched all three points when another Obersteller delivery caused havoc, Guthrie headed the ball down, and Gallagher forced the ball forward before the loose ball fell for him to poke home.

Mad celebrations from players and supporters alike followed before Welling saw out the three further additional minutes.

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Welling United: Mott, Franks, Obersteller, Day, Martin Acheampong, Gallagher, Clarke. Guthrie, Lafayette, Kinch (Hughes-Mason 65). Subs not used: Turner, Williams, Fairweather-Johnson, Fakinos.