Thamesmead earn replay at Welling with late equaliser (From News Shopper)

Thamesmead 2-2 Welling

1:11am Sunday 27th November 2011 in Welling By Mark Doig

DESPITE the two division gap between Thamesmead Town and Welling United few in the crowd would deny that Mead deserved a second crack at their visitors following a draw at Bayliss Avenue.

Theo Fairweather-Johnson became the hero of the hour with an injury time equaliser, having given them the lead earlier in the proceedings.

Keith McMahon, Thamesmead’s manager, made changes from the team that drew 4-4 with Waltham Abbey by bringing in one ex-Welling player, Danny Moore, for another, Dean Standen. He also replaced front two Joseph Afusi and Chuck Duru with Danny Penny and Bradley Killick.

Jamie Day made adjustments to the Welling line up with Andy Sambrook, Jack Parkinson, Jordon Johnson and Ryan Dolby starting with Anthony Acheampong, Loui Fazakerley, Joe Healy and Andy Pugh stepping down.

In an attempt to test out their visitors, Mead started with a series of crunching tackles before the game settled down.

Loick Pires had the first opportunity for Welling but shot over.

Dolby then cut across field before his tame effort was claimed by Sam Mott.

Scot Mulholland hit a free kick that was blocked by Day’s left knee before Lewis Tozer failed to get enough height as he attempted to lob Dan Thomas in Welling’s goal.

Day then had a shot blocked but the ball fell kindly to Pires whose powerful effort was well saved by Mott.

In the Wings’ next attack Pires knocked the ball back to Lee Clarke who chested down before volleying just wide.

Penny had the last chance of the half for Mead but screwed his shot well wide having been played in well by Killick.

Just one minute into the second half, Mead went ahead.

Fairweather-Johnson broke free, and although the diving Thomas got his hand to the shot, it had too much power for him.

Ben Martin headed wide for Welling before they brought on leading goalscorer Pugh for Dolby and within five minutes he had levelled when his twenty yarder eluded Mott and found its way into the bottom corner.

A good flowing Welling move ended with Pires shooting wide of the far post with a clever effort off the outside of his left boot.

Mead came back through the ever dangerous Fairweather-Johnson who first shot wide before seeing another effort deflected just beyond the far post.

Tozer then had a minute that he would want to forget, first failing to hit the target with a free header at the near post from the resultant corner before conceding a penalty at the other end for a rash tackle on Day.

Clarke stepped up to take the 67th minute penalty and although Mott went the right way, the ball ballooned back over Clarke’s head only for him to turn and score with a spectacular overhead scissors kick.

Pugh had a shot cleared off the line by Ashley Proberts before substitute David Noel curled a free kick for Thamesmead over the bar.

The hard working Pires had a shot deflected out by Tozer before, with time running out, his determination allowed him another chance but he was unable to keep his fierce attempt under the bar.

One minute into injury time, a low Fairweather-Johnson shot appeared to bobble in front of Thomas’ dive and ended up nestling in the back of the net.

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Thamesmead Town: Mott, Hopkins (Walters-Wright 89), Proberts, Moore, Tozer, Donovan, Mulholland, Dawson, Penny (Noel 63), Killick, Fairweather-Johnson (Wells 90+3). Unused substitutes Burman, Woodward.

Welling United: Thomas, Sambrook, Obersteller, Day, Parkinson, Martin, Johnson (Healy 78), Clarke, Cumbers (Tuna 87), Dolby (Pugh 57), Pires. Unused substitutes: Davisson, Acheampong.