After the tragic and sudden loss of Graham Hobbins this week it was an emotional Saturday for Welling United as they welcomed Bishop's Stortford to Park View Road. The afternoon started with a minute’s silence in Graham's honour. However, despite going in at half time with the lead the Wings lost 3-2 with the Bishops scoring the winner in bizarre fashion a minute from time.

With goalkeepers Jamie Turner and Paul Hyde both suffering injuries, loan signing David Wilkinson was handed his debut. It wasn't long before the young keeper was called into making his first save when he pushed Danny Morgan's shot past the post just moments into the game.

Just after Martin Carthy had missed for the Wings, Bishop's Stortford went down the other end and took the lead. Morgan managed to turn past Chris Moore before firing low past Wilkinson.

The visitor’s lead was cancelled out just minutes later when the Wings equalised. Jamie Day's corner was met by the head of Steve Perkins who drew his side level.

The game was end to end with Wilkinson forced into another fine save on 14 minutes when John Turner's effort was parried wide.

Ellis Green did well to intercept the ball before seeing his shot saved low before another counter attack nearly caught the Wings out. Morgan was through on goal but Mark Goodfellow cleared his shot off the line. Green then had another chance to put the Wings in front but his effort flew just inches over.

With just minutes remaining until the break the Wings took the lead. A long ball from Leon Solomon caught the Bishops off guard with the visitors assuming the Wings had won a free-kick after the linesman flagged for a foul. Subsequently Danny Kedwell found himself one on one with Chris Wright before forcing the ball home.

Welling could have added a third before the half time whistle when Perkins headed wide from Day's corner.

Tony Battersby went close after the break when his shot was deflected wide before Kedwell had an effort blocked.

With the Wings failing to take their chances Bishop's Stortford drew level just after the hour mark. Morgan setup Max Porter to slot the ball home from close range.

Just as it looked the game would end all square the visitors won the game a minute from time. Ashley Fuller's low corner flew straight into the net with the Wings player left standing in disbelief.

Danny Kedwell could have scored a late equaliser in stoppage time but the striker fired well over.

Welling travel to Newport County next Saturday in tough match against another promotion hopeful.

Come on you Wings!

Click Thumbnail or Here for Match Video (35MB-Large File)



Click Here for Interview with Adrian Pennock (1.9MB-Small File)

Extracts from the Interview:
"No disrespect to my Son’s under 9s team they would have cleared that. That is an absolutely basic scandalous error, not happy at all. The three goals were shocking and if you want to do something you have got to stop those stupid goals going in. We have to regroup with a big game against Newport next week.

You can't give teams three goals like we did. Decisions change games but I think we were clutching on straws. We just weren't good enough today and I'm not going to blame the conditions. We should have been professional enough and that was a beatable game today and we should have won."