Welling United 2 v 4 Maidstone United

John Ullman Kent Senior Cup Quarter-Final

Report by Daniel Harris

A YOUTHFUL Welling United might have gone out of the Kent Senior Cup but they can take great heart from a good performance against an experienced Maidstone United side.

With promotion still very much on the horizon, Wings manager Adrian Pennock used the tie to give the players of tomorrow a chance to impress by naming a number of under-18s and two under-16s in the starting line-up.

The Wings started well and were rewarded for their pressure when they took the lead on 17 minutes.

Striker Andrew Sam latched on to a Dan Badu throw before skipping past two challenges and hitting a low shot past Michael Czanner into the far corner.

The visitors nearly fashioned an instant response when midfielder Jason Barton burst into the area but he was denied by a wonderful block from goalkeeper Paul Hyde.

On 39 minutes, the Stones drew level - Peter Overton picked out Simon Austin with a precise pass and the striker applied a fine finish with a curling effort past Hyde.

Sam had to be replaced after picking up an injury - his replacement Rishi Mankani making an instant impact.

Just a minute after the re-start, the young striker hit a well placed shot, from the edge of the area, which beat the despairing dive of Czanner.

Mankani could have had another shortly after, when he capitalised on a mistake by Lee Shearer.

Unfortunately, he was just unable to keep his shot down.

As the half wore on so Maidstone started to take more control of the game - Hyde made a good stop to keep out a Kane Rice drive while a well worked move involving Barton, Nick Hegley, and Alex Tiesse saw the latter fire wide.

On 67 minutes the Stones drew level when Hegley picked up an Overton pass and hit a blistering 30-yard shot which beat Hyde just inside his post.

Three minutes later, they took the lead when Hegley picked up on a defensive mistake and slipped in the lightening quick Tiesse.

The striker raced clear before slipping the ball under the advancing Hyde.

Full credit to the young Welling United players who kept going and they had a chance to level the scores.

D.Badu was just unable to apply the finish to a fine move with his shot going narrowly over the bar.

Ten minutes from time the visitors made sure of victory when the impressive Hegley scored the goal of the game - receiving Aaron Shade's pass, the winger went on an excellent run, evaded three challenges, and slipped the ball under Hyde.

Despite defeat, the Wings side should be very pleased with their performance and the experience of playing at this level will have been a valuable exercise.

MATCH FACTS:

WELLING UTD: Hyde, Alders, J.Badu, Eaton, Murphy (Willoughby) Dean (Green), Rowland, Sam (Mankani), Brooke, Odunaike, D.Badu.

SUBS NOT USED: Penfold.

ATT: 195.