Welling ease to victory over Boreham Wood (From News Shopper)

Welling 2-0 Boreham Wood

10:33pm Saturday 19th November 2011 in Welling By Mark Doig

LEE Clarke’s first half brace proved sufficient for Welling United who eased to victory over Boreham Wood.

Jack Parkinson’s one match suspension allowed Jamie Day to restore Clarke to the starting line up and he took full advantage of the opportunity to stake his claim to keep his place when all players become available.

Despite coming into this match on the back of six straight league victories, Wood, who fielded five players on loan from full time clubs, rarely threatened the Wings who recorded their fourth consecutive win in the process.

After a cagey opening, the first real opportunity of the match came following a strong cross field run by Luis Cumbers. Having held off two defenders he played the ball out to Loick Pires whose first time shot flew just beyond the angle of crossbar and post.

Cumbers was also involved as Welling opened the scoring on 23 minutes. Joe Healy’s cross from the left was headed back by Cumbers to Clarke who spun and shot low past a flat footed Wood goalkeeper Elvijs Putnims.

Earlier in the season Welling lost at Boreham Wood where they conceded two penalties. This time around it was Welling who were awarded a spot kick.

Jack Obersteller’s through ball sent Pires through and a clumsy tackle gave referee Michael George no choice than to point to the spot and caution Sam Lechmere.

Clarke stepped up and converted confidently.

A wonderful flowing move then created another opening. Day made space for Andy Pugh who then found Pires on the left wing. The striker’s deep cross picked out Cumbers who side footed first time just past the post.

Against the run of play, Wood came close to pulling a goal back when in-form Michael Thalassitis burst through but saw his shot hit the post and go behind for a corner.

Welling came back and Pugh’s cross was headed back by Pires just out of the reach of Cumbers.

David Bryant became the second Wood player cautioned, apparently and strangely for dissent, after the referee’s assistant had signalled a throw in to the visitors seemingly in error.

At the half time break, Wood manager Ian Allinson replaced David Hutton with Justin Cochrane in an attempt to try and turn the match round.

Luke Wilkinson became the next Wood player to be cautioned as the visitors continued to challenge every decision made by the referee.

Thalassitis found space for a shot that was turned away for a corner by Dan Thomas, making the only real save of the match at either end.

Day shot over for Welling as Wilkinson smashed through him, but referee gave Wood a goal kick.

Allinson made two further changes bringing on Simeon Akinola for Lecemere and Chet Johnson for Bryant.

Sam Cox was fortunate to escape a booking for an ugly challenge in front of the visitors’ bench.

Pugh, somewhat unfortunately, became the first Welling player cautioned when he appeared to have dispossessed Wilkinson fairly and lobbed the outrushing Putnins who slumped to the ground following the inevitable collision.

Wood were allowed a little more territory as Welling defended their lead fearing they could be caught out if they played a more expansive game but Anthony Acheampong and Ben Martin barely put a foot wrong and coped with everything thrown at them.

Loui Fazakerley made a crucial tackle as Wood broke down the left wing and the visitors were reduced to a wayward Mark Jones shot from distance.

Jordan Johnson’s crunching fair tackle on Luke Garrard showed Welling’s determination to keep a clean sheet shortly after he had come on for Healy.

Ryan Dolby replaced Pugh with two minutes remaining and marked his second Welling debut with an injury time booking.

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Welling United: Thomas, Fazakerly, Obersteller, Day, Acheampong, Martin, Healy (Johnson 80), Clarke, Cumbers, Pugh (Dolby 88), Pires. Unused substitutes: Sambrook, Tuna, Davisson.