Welling suffer Trophy humbling at East Thurrock (From News Shopper)

Welling suffer Trophy humbling at East Thurrock

10:09pm Saturday 10th December 2011 in Welling By Mark Doig

DESPITE recovering from an early deficit, Welling United failed to build on it and crashed out of the F.A. Trophy 2-1 at Ryman Premier strugglers East Thurrock United.

Jamie Day chose to rest Luis Cumbers, Jack Obersteller and Andy Sambrook, possibly with his mind on Tuesday night’s league game at Basingstoke Town, and paid the price as his team looked disjointed and were second best to their hosts.

After Andy Pugh had shot just wide from 25 yards with Richard Wray in the Rocks goal beaten, East Thurrock went ahead in the fourth minute.

Kye Ruel played the ball behind the Welling defence to Matt Hall who finished easily.

Kris Newby hit a free kick just over Dan Thomas’ crossbar before Wray was almost caught out when a long punt bounced over him but landed on the roof of the net.

Another free kick presented more problems for Welling but Sam Collins was unable to keep his effort under the crossbar.

Pugh fired a first time effort, a Ben Martin header was claimed by Wray and Joe Healy hooked over as Welling enjoyed their best period of the game.

Loick Pires was played in by Pugh but Wray came out quickly to deny him at the cost of the first corner of the day.

The good spell was rewarded with an equaliser on the half hour when superb control by Pires, combined with a pint point cross field pass, gave Pugh the type of opportunity on which he thrives and the Wings leading scorer finished emphatically shooting past Wray at his near post.

Despite the earlier warnings, the good work was undone within three minutes when Jack Parkinson’s foul, for which he was shown a yellow card, presented the Rocks with another opportunity.

Sam Higgins hit a fierce rising free kick into the top corner of the net on the side that Thomas appeared to have covered.

Welling came back and Healy’s cross found Pires on the far post but he failed to get sufficient contact on his stooping header and the ball went wide of the post.

Just before half time Pires made what seemed a good tackle but the reaction of some of the East Thurrock players persuaded the referee to show him a yellow card.

Lee Clarke attacked an early second half Day free kick but was flagged for offside with Wray floundering.

Excellent play by Tamer Tuna allowed him space to cross for Healy who hit the ball into the ground and up before Wray tipped the ball over.

Collins fired wide for East Thurrock before Newby was booked for fouling Healy.

Day’s subsequent free kick was well saved by Wray and the unmarked Clarke met another free kick from the Welling player manager but headed wide.

Jordan Johnson was replaced by Obersteller and shortly after another good piece of work from Tuna he was withdrawn with Cumbers coming on.

Pires fired well over for Welling before Higgins did likewise at the other end.

As the clock ran down, Welling had another chance when Healy intercepted Hall’s header back but scuffed his shot.

Simon Peddie was very lucky to escape with just a caution when he fouled Day and then appeared to step on him. Unusually for him, Day’s free kick went straight into the wall and the last chance was gone.

Welling United: Thomas, Acheampong, Johnson (Obersteller 62), Day, Parkinson, Martin, Healy, Clarke, Tuna (Cumbers 72), Pugh, Pires. Unused substitutes: Dolby, Taylor, Fazakerley.