Welling and Chelmsford maintain proud records (From News Shopper)

Welling and Chelmsford maintain proud records

9:25pm Saturday 28th January 2012 in Welling By Mark Doig

HONOURS were shared when Welling United, unbeaten at home drew 1-1 with Chelmsford City who are yet to taste defeat on the road in the 2011-12 season.

Both teams had great opportunities to win the game in the second half and Jamie Day’s second half dismissal put Welling at a disadvantage for the last 33 minutes of the match, but a draw was probably a fair result overall.

Early chances fell Welling’s way when first Loick Pires shot wide then a Jack Obersteller free kick was scrambled away unconvincingly.

At the other end, Chelmsford won a couple of corners and from the second in the 14th minute they went ahead. Max Cornhill rose unchallenged at the far post to nod home a lofted, but not particularly dangerous looking delivery.

Another free kick, this time from Day, caused further problems to Chelmsford but Pires side-footed wide from close range.

Andy Sambrook’s work in front of the back four helped keep Chelmsford at bay as Welling searched for an equaliser.

Loui Fazakerley, outstanding throughout, then did well to play in Pires but his deflected shot was saved well by Stuart Searle.

Further panic in the Chelmsford defence was evident when Kenny Clark’s desperation to rob Pires resulted in him belting the ball just beyond his own far post.

Anthony Acheampong, returning for the suspended Jack Parkinson, made an excellent tackle on Cornhill before playing a searching ball down the line to Pires.

In the 43rd minute Welling claimed a deserved equaliser when Luis Cumbers found space down the left wing before crossing to Pires who lifted the ball over Searle and into the net in one movement.

Yellow cards for Jack Evans of Welling and Chelmsford’s Justin Miller greeted the start of the second half but it was Day’s dismissal twelve minutes in that changed the shape of the game.

Day’s challenge on Cornhill in front of an unsporting Chelmsford dug-out was deemed worse than the tackle by Miller on Day that earned the Chelmsford man his caution, and Day was shown a red card.

Despite being down to ten men, Welling almost went ahead from an Obersteller corner which hit Miller and went wide for a further corner.

Evans was then required to clear over his own bar at the other end, and from the corner Obersteller cleared Clark’s header off the line. John Whitehouse, back in the Welling goal after a long injury lay off, made a good save from Cornhill before Searle saved from Fazakerley after Ben Martin caused chaos in the Chelmsford penalty area.

Cumbers missed a glorious chance to put Welling ahead when Searle, challenged by Pires, dropped an Obersteller cross but the Wings’ striker miss-hit his shot and it dribbled wide of the post.

After Fazakerley hit a 20 yard first time shot narrowly wide, Chelmsford also missed a gilt edged opening.

David Rainford stole in unmarked at the far post but headed wide of an open goal from close range.

Kezie Ibe had a chance well saved by Whitehouse in the dying minutes and the same striker had one last chance but blazed well over.

Welling United: Whitehouse, Evans, Obersteller, Sambrook, Acheampong, Martin, Fazakerley (Cracknell 89), Clarke, Cumbers, Day, Pires (Greenhalgh 90). Unused substitute: Kinch.