Welling pushed but there's no falling over

FA Cup Third Round Qualifying Replay

WELLING United booked the final FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round place but they were made to work for it by their lower league opposition.

Only after Des Boateng's wonder-strike in injury time could the Wings relax as AFC Hornchurch showed why they're flying high in Ryman League Division One North.

And, despite some nervous moments, it is Adrian Pennock's Wings who will host Clevedon Town on October 28 for a place in the First Round Proper.

For this replay both managers fielded the same teams which battled out Saturday's 1-1 draw.

Ronayne Benjamin continued to deputise for the injured Leon Solomon at left back and looked accomplished in an otherwise nervous defence.

In front of a passionate travelling support Hornchurch went behind on six minutes.

Danny Kedwell forced a corner which Jamie Day planted onto Martin Carthy's head and the midfielder made no mistake from six yards for his second goal of the season.

Hornchurch responded by putting Chris Moore under pressure but Kris Lee's first touch when through on Jamie Turner was too heavy.

Kedwell almost doubled the lead but fired over when Dave Brightley in the Hornchurch goal dropped the ball at the striker's feet.

There followed a spate of ridiculous bookings - John Purdie and Simon Parker were cautioned for kicking the ball away and Carthy followed for dissent.

Hornchurch won their first corner off Moore but the delivery was poor and Turner collected easily.

To emphasise their potency in attack, Hornchurch's Parker forced a fine save from Turner on 31 minutes as the keeper smothered a low angled drive just after Garry Cross had narrowly missed the target with a shot across the face of goal.

Matt Bodkin finally unleashed his breath-taking speed beating three defenders as he scorched into the penalty area before being stopped by the last man.

Kedwell then hit the side-netting before Welling had a penalty shout turned down - Bodkin appeared to be obstructed in the area and with the referee apparently playing the advantage Kedwell's shot seconds later was blocked and the danger cleared.

As the advantage came to nothing, the man in black could have pulled play back for the spot-kick but decided against it.

The half ended with Hornchurch in the ascendancy as three quick-fire corners pegged Welling back but at the break they remained a goal behind.

Hornchurch dominated the opening stages of the second half - Parker, Lee, Jim McFarlane and Mark Janney all went close before Pennock made a change on 57 minutes replacing Carthy with Baoteng.

The change almost brought immediate dividends as Boateng's through-ball gave Kedwell the chance to demonstrate his pace.

However, despite Kedwell reaching the ball ahead of the defenders they did just enough to put him off the shot flew over.

Steve Perkins replaced the tiring but effective Ellis Green and the substitute's looping header almost dropped beneath the bar on 66 minutes.

Boateng was booked for a late challenge on Danny Glozier but worse followed on 78 minutes when Jon Guest hauled down Lee in the penalty area and the referee pointed to the spot and Janney brought the visitors level.

Welling responded within three minutes - Kedwell fed Bodkin on the left and his inch-perfect cross was volleyed home at the far post by Che Stadhart.

As if to prove their annoyances at being pegged back, Perkins and Bodkin peppered the Hornchurch goal looking for the killer score.

However, it did not come until injury time when Boateng beat the keeper with a wonderful curling strike from 20 yards.

The midfielder appeared stunned to have scored such a goal and took a few seconds to come to terms with it before rushing to be mobbed by the fans behind the goal.

MATCH FACTS:

WELLING: Turner, Guest, Moore, Lewis, Benjamin, Carthy (Boateng, 57), Bodkin, Green (Perkins, 63), Day, Kedwell, Stadhart.

SUBS NOT USED: Rowland, Hyde, Edusei.

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