Welling settle for a point at Tonbridge (From News Shopper)

Tonbridge Angels 1-1 Welling

10:22pm Saturday 3rd December 2011 in Welling By Mark Doig

WELLING United overcame an early deficit and a late onslaught to earn a hard won point with a draw at Tonbridge Angels.

Jack Obersteller joined Loui Fazakerley on the Welling injury list and Jordan Johnson replaced him at left back. Jack Parkinson moved back to centre half with Ben Martin missing out.

Disaster struck for Welling in the fourth minute. Parkinson headed the ball away but when the ball was returned into the penalty area he could only manage to turn the ball into his own net.

Andy Pugh appeared to have a justified shout for a penalty when pushed by Sonny Miles as he was about to head Joe Healy’s cross.

Johnson was cautioned for handball before Scott Kinch headed over from a corner.

In the 18th minute Welling levelled. Andy Sambrook slung over a deep cross that Pugh brought down expertly before slotting the ball beyond Lee Worgan in the Tonbridge goal.

Ben Judge was then cautioned for bringing down Pugh as Welling enjoyed their best spell of the match.

Pugh turned Judge but the defender recovered well to deflect Pugh’s shot to Worgan.

The Welling talisman continued to threaten and after killing a Loick Pires pass he cut in and shot requiring a smart save by Worgan at the near post.

Just before half time, Pugh’s curler from the edge of the penalty area beat Worgan but went narrowly wide.

At the start of the second half Tim Olurunda was very lucky to escape with just a lecture for a nasty tackle on Healy.

Jamie Day almost played in Healy before Lee Clarke’s burst gave Pugh the chance to cross low and Judge was relieved to see the ball go just wide after it had come off him.

Kayne McLaggon was thwarted by Healy’s clearance off the line as Tonbridge turned up the heat.

Referee Ben Knight showed his inconsistency by booking Cumbers for a far less severe tackle than the one Olurunda had committed earlier, possibly buying the over reaction from Jon Heath.

McLaggon shot just wide after Michael Boateng’s strong run had created the opening.

Luis Cumbers cross found Pires, but his header was easily claimed by Worgan as Welling's attacks became rarer.

Miles’ long pass found Lee Browning in space and he cut in before his shot gave Dan Thomas a comfortable save.

After another bad tackle by Olurunda earned him another stern warning, his reaction to a Sambrook foul, requiring two team mates to haul him back, showed he was less able to take punishment.

Once Sambrook had been cautioned, Frannie Collin stepped up and curled the free kick over the bar.

Further cautions followed for Welling’s Anthony Acheampong and Tonbridge’s Boateng while Olurunda committed yet another foul that was only punished by a free kick.

Thomas made a fine save to thwart Collin before the league’s leading scorer almost plundered all three points when curling a free kick fractionally wide.

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Welling: Thomas, Sambrook, Johnson, Day, Acheampong, Parkinson, Healy (Dolby 76), Clarke, Cumbers, Pugh, Pires. Unused substitutes: Martin, Tuna, Hudson.