Welling go down in seven goal thriller (From News Shopper)

Welling go down in seven goal thriller

10:08pm Saturday 17th December 2011 in Welling By Mark Doig

AFTER Tuesday’s outstanding victory at Basingstoke Town, Welling United were brought back down to earth with 4-3 defeat at Sutton United.

Jack Obersteller’s injury in midweek meant Jamie Day had to make a change bringing in fit again Andy Sambrook at right back and switching Jack Evans, on a one month loan from Gillingham, to the other side.

Loick Pires was available after suspension but was unable to force his way back into the starting line up and had to be content with a place on the substitutes bench.

Tony Taggart had an early header saved by Dan Thomas before Sutton opened the scoring in the 11th minute.

Tommy Kavanagh made the most of Welling’s failure to clear their lines and scored with an accurate shot from long range.

Within a minute parity was restored. Joe Healy broke down the left wing and squared for Andy Pugh to slot home under the body of Kevin Scriven.

Just three more minutes passed before the hosts went back ahead courtesy of another long range effort, this time from Harry Beautyman.

Again Welling came back and from Pugh’s cross, Lee Clarke looked certain to score until Chris Piper’s dubious challenge caused him to lift his side foot volley over the crossbar.

On twenty four minutes Welling levelled again. Jack Parkinson slipped through a perfect pass to Luis Cumbers who ended his goal drought with a confident finish.

Parkinson was booked soon after four a foul on Beautyman.

Cumbers and Pugh almost combined to make another chance but Simon Downer made a crucial interception.

Five corners in quick succession underlined Sutton’s dominance in the last fifteen minutes of the first period and Thomas made an excellent save just before the break.

Continuing where they left off, Sutton started the second half strongly but did not mark their territorial advantage with a goal and Welling pulled themselves back into the game when Evans and Healy combined to give Parkinson an opportunity. The Welling captain struck the ball sweetly but his twenty yard effort flew over the bar.

Craig Watkins broke through for Sutton but shot beyond the far post before Scriven claimed Anthony Acheampong’s header from Day’s corner.

Ben Martin met Day’s next dead ball delivery with a header across to Cumbers but Scriven made a regulation save from his first time shot.

Healy had a shot blocked for a corner as Welling continued to press before the visitors went ahead for the first time after 73 minutes.

Evans found Cumbers with a deep cross and the Welling striker met the ball perfectly with a volley that flew past Scriven and into the net off the far post.

All the good work was undone within a minute as Sam Page, with bandaged head, nodded home.

Four minutes later Welling’s season long blight of fouls in and around the penalty area hurt them again.

Taggart’s free kick was deflected off the wall and when Thomas could only parry the ball upwards, Watkins was first to the loose ball which he scrambled into the net.

Having lost their momentum, Welling struggled to create further chances and they only had a high long range effort from Pires, shortly after replacing Parkinson, to show for their efforts and Sutton closed out the game in relative comfort.

Welling United: Thomas, Sambrook, Evans, Day, Acheampong, Martin, Parkinson (Pires 79), Clarke, Cumbers, Pugh, Healy (Tuna 86). Unused substitutes: Johnson, Fazakerley, Dolby.