Welling claim excellent win at Basingstoke (From News Shopper)

Basingstoke 0-1 Welling

9:00am Wednesday 14th December 2011 in Welling By Mark Doig

FOLLOWING Saturday’s disappointing FA Trophy exit, Welling United bounced back with an outstanding victory at Basingstoke Town.

Jamie Day was forced to play himself despite injury and Jack Parkinson played through illness as Welling’s small squad was stretched to the limit.

Things were slightly alleviated by the debut of Jack Evans, on a one month loan from Gillingham, and he fitted in well with his new team mates and enjoyed a fine debut.

Loick Pires’ suspension meant that Welling had to adjust their formation but they settled quickly and Joe Healy’s pass gave Lee Clarke the first opportunity of the match and his shot forced Ashley Bayes to tip over.

Jack Obersteller’s first raid down the left wing ended with him being brought down in the penalty area by Nathan Smart and referee Simon Knapp pointed to the spot.

Bayes used his experience to delay the spot kick but although he dived the right way and got his hand to the shot, Clarke’s shot had too much power giving Welling a seventh minute lead.

Matt Warner had Basingstoke’s first shooting chance but he shot well wide.

Clarke fired over Welling’s next chance but although Basingstoke enjoyed a good spell of possession only a Tim Sills header across the face of the goal from Jay Gasson’s long cross threatened any danger.

Wes Daly was cautioned for a nasty tackle on Day before the wings came within millimetres of going further ahead.

Another excellent Healy through ball gave Andy Pugh a shooting opportunity and his effort beat Bayes but came back out off the inside of the post.

Whilst Welling had conceded a lot of territory in the first spell, they enjoyed much more possession in the second period and Evans clever lob over the top only just evaded both Luis Cumbers and Pugh.

Obersteller’s free kick almost caught Bayes out as he anticipated a flick on, but he managed to scramble the ball away.

Great chasing of what had seemed a lost cause embarrassed Toby Little and Evans, who had backed up quickly, found Day whose shot was deflected over for a corner.

As tackles flew in Day was cautioned for a foul and Parkinson for dissent before Welling came close again when Day’s free kick thundered back off the crossbar.

Obersteller joined his manager and captain in the referee’s notebook before Little was booked for the Dragons.

Basingstoke did not manage one shot on target as Anthony Acheampong and Ben Martin won the arial battles.

Two streakers on an icy cold night were unable to disrupt Welling and Clarke had a goal disallowed for offside as they continued their tedious antics.

Deep into injury time Pugh chased a long ball and hooked over the outrushing Bayes but was unable to place his shot into the empty net.

The three points Welling gained stretched the gap between them in second place and the Dragons in sixth and they also enjoyed their first clean sheet on their travels this season.

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Welling United: Thomas, Evans, Obersteller, Day, Acheampong, Martin, Parkinson, Clarke, Cumbers, Pugh, Healy. Unused substitutes: Fazakerley, Tuna, Johnson, Dolby.