Defeat at the hands of Eastbourne Borough ended Welling United’s three month unbeaten league and cup run at the J. Hearnden Skip Hire Community Stadium.
An early chance went to Eastbourne’s Decarrey Sheriff before Welling settled into the game and created plenty of chances. Antony Papadopoulos, restored to the team in place of the absent Josh Chambers, had a shot deflected just over the bar before his excellent pass sent Tristan Abrahams through. Although he finished superbly, the Welling supporters were soon silenced when they saw a flag raised for offside.
After that, it became a story of Welling strikers versus Borough goalkeeper Harrison Foulkes. Papadopoulos was again involved when his good shot was beaten out by Foulkes as far as Jephte Tanga but the stopper, on loan from Millwall, was up quickly to make an excellent save from the Wings’ wide-man’s shot.
Kain Adom was next to try his luck. Foulkes beat his shot out well and again Tanga was first to react, however, this time his effort was blocked by Freddie Carter’s desperate lunge. Cameron Green was then offered the chance to cross from one of many free kicks conceded by the visitors and his inviting delivery demanded a touch but nobody was able to apply it and the opportunity went begging.
Foulkes then made a wonder save when TJ Bramble flicked a Papadopoulos corner into the path of Lachlan Byrd. His shot looked destined for the top corner until the Sports’ custodian intervened with a strong hand to push it over.
Reice Charles-Cook, the Welling goalkeeper, had been a spectator until three minutes before half time when he was powerless to stop his side from going behind. Brad Barry nodded back a corner and an unmarked Carter headed home.
Immediately after the interval, Charles-Cook made an easy, save, his only one of the match, before he was again beaten when Callum Kealy fired into the bottom corner.
Tanga missed a chance to pull one back when shooting wide after Foulkes had beaten out Green’s driven cross before a foul by Jack Paxman presented Abrahams with an opportunity from a free kick. He struck it sweetly towards the bottom corner but Foulkes was equal to it with another good save.
Adam Roscrow was then introduced to the fray for the first time since sustaining an injury at the start of September as Danny Bloor changed the shape of his team, but Welling were still unable to find a way through. Byrd went close with a first time shot that fizzed just wide from Tanga’s pull-back, then Adom shot well off target.
Enoch Muwonge came on as a substitute and blasted over after Foulkes had blocked his initial effort before yet another free kick gave Green a further opportunity. His first free kick came back out off the defensive wall and his follow up flew narrowly wide.
Yet again, Foulkes was called into action with a great stop from Dominic Odusanya before saving comfortably from a Byrd header as the game moved into stoppage time.
When Sam Beard was cautioned for an agricultural challenge, he was the sixth Eastbourne player to be booked but the Sports’ management will feel that the end justified the means, especially when Foulkes made one more outstanding save to deny Adom.
Next Saturday, Welling visit Bath City. The Wings’ away form has been poor so they will be looking to arrest that to give their supporters a perfect Christmas present.
Welling United: Charles-Cook, Orji, Green, Grant, Bramble, Byrd, Tanga (Muwonge 77), Odusanya, Abrahams, Papadopoulos (Roscrow 67), Adom. Sub not used: Pitterson, Curran, Kassarate.
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