Persistent Welling see off plucky Thamesmead (From News Shopper)

Welling 3-1 Thamesmead

9:00am Wednesday 30th November 2011 in Welling By Mark Doig

PATIENCE paid off for Welling United as they recovered from conceding an early goal to defeat Thamesmead Town.

Sam Mott pulled off a string of fine saves to keep the Wings at bay but goals from Jack Parkinson, Loick Pires and Andy Pugh proved too much for the hard working Mead.

Jamie Day made adjustments to the Welling line up with Anthony Acheampong replacing Lee Clarke, whilst Andy Pugh returned to the starting team at the expense of Ryan Dolby.

Keith McMahon, Thamesmead’s manager, made one change from Saturday’s battle between the two sides with David Noel wearing the number 9 shirt instead of Dave Penney.

Acheampong headed wide early on after a Jamie Day corner had evaded everyone at the near post before the visitors stunned Welling by taking a 10th minute lead.

Thamesmead’s two goal hero from Saturday, Theo Fairweather-Johnson, again showed his pace and power as he burst down the left hand side before hitting a fierce shot that proved too hot for Dan Thomas.

Mott was then called into the action for the first time stretching to save a long shot from Parkinson.

Day was the next Wing to be frustrated as Mott tipped his goal-bound free kick over the bar.

Pires then had a shot saved before Bradley Killick’s foul on Day earned him the first yellow card of the tie.

Despite having taken some punishment, Mead showed that they presented a danger when Noel cut in and only a vital touch prevented him from setting up Fairweather-Johnson again.

After Day had fired another shot straight at Mott, Welling again came close when both Jordon Johnson and Pires had shots blocked in a goalmouth scramble.

Neither manager made a change to the team at the break and Day came close early in the second half with another free kick that Mott scrambled away at the near post with Ben Martin unable to force the loose ball home.

Having made some fine saves, Mott rode his luck when collecting the rebound after the impressive Pires had charged down his clearance.

Pugh’s cross was deflected just beyond Parkinson at the expense of a corner and after Jack Hopkins had been cautioned for kicking the ball away needlessly, Welling grabbed a 54th minute equaliser.

Again showing his prowess with dead ball kicks, Day’s perfect corner found Parkinson who finally shook off his marker to head home.

Both Welling players were cautioned soon after, Parkinson for a foul on Lea Dawson and Day a few minutes later for dissent.

Jack Obersteller swung over an inch perfect cross that Parkinson headed over when unmarked and a strong run by Luis Cumbers resulted in the ball falling to Pires who stabbed his shot just wide.

Further cautions followed, first for Pires for a perceived dive, then Dawson for a foul on Pugh.

Yet another Mott save from a further Day free kick was followed by an even better one from a Martin shot with Pires lurking for any scraps.

On 79 minutes, Mott was given no chance by Pugh who slipped Ashley Proberts before curling the ball into the top corner.

James Donovan, who had defended solidly throughout, was next to be cautioned before Welling made the game safe with nine minutes remaining.

Receiving a lob over the defence, Pires showed fine technique as he turned and volleyed powerfully into the bottom corner.

Clarke, who had come on for Obersteller, put over a cross that Parkinson met with a floated header that went over Mott, but also the crossbar and another substitute, Tamer Tuna, burst through but was forced wide and could only shoot into the side netting.

Fairweather-Johnson forced a good save from Thomas before Mott saved a Pires header from a corner.

Victors Welling now travel to East Thurrock United in the next round.

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Welling United: Thomas, Sambrook, Obersteller (Clarke 69), Day, Acheampong, Martin, Parkinson, Johnson, Cumbers (Tuna 83), Pugh, Pires. Unused substitutes: Davisson, Acheampong.

Thamesmead Town: Mott, Hopkins (Walters-Wright 82), Proberts, Moore, Tozer, Donovan, Mulholland, Dawson, Noel, Killick (Walker 87), Fairweather-Johnson. Unused substitutes Burman, Wells, Woodward.