Although they scored early Welling United had to settle for a draw and a replay when they visited Faversham Town in their FA Cup First Qualifying Round tie.
Manager Ryan Maxwell made six changes to the Wings’ team that were defeated at Cray Wanderers on August Bank Holiday including bringing in Louie Ramsay for his competitive first team debut. Troy Howard returned to the substitutes’ bench following his injury in pre-season at Punjab United.
One of the players restored to the first team, Nahum Melvin-Lambert, opened the scoring in the second minute. Kaan Bennett burst clear down the right and slid it across the six yard box for Welling’s leading scorer to tuck into the empty net.
After that, real chances were at a premium as Faversham seemed intent in launching it to their two tall strikers, or get it down the side to win throw ins for Jack Steventon’s long throws, or corners for Jack Evans to deliver. Meanwhile, Welling struggled to string passes together and create opportunities.
Fumnaya Shomotun fired just over as half time approached before Faversham’s Eniye Amgabaduba couldn’t keep his header down from Steventon’s long throw with the last touch of the first half.
Amgsbaduba had the first effort of the second period with a stinging shot that Mackenzie Foley did well to push over before the Welling goalkeeper saved an Evans free kick easily.
Just after the hour mark Welling came close to scoring a second when Demaray Anyadike threaded it through to Bennett and his shot came back out off the upright. Both goalkeepers then made saves at the feet of substitutes with Thomas Hadler denying Ade Azeez and Foley smothering as Kane Haysman tried to round him.
Three minutes remained when the hosts levelled. Howard headed a cross out as far as Kieron Campbell and his low drive flew just inside the post.
Josh Ajayi might have won it for the hosts in stoppage time when set up by Nathan Wood having just come on, but he blasted high over and the tie will be decided by a replay in Welling.
Welling United: Foley; Ramsay (Otseh-Taiwo 76), Bertram-Cooper, Majoyegbe, Arthur; Blackman (Reynolds 76), Miller-Rodney (Smith 68); Anyadike, Bennett, Shomotun (Howard 58); Melvin-Lambert (Azeez 68). Subs not used: None.
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