Welling United 1
Farnborough Town 0
Tuesday 8 November 2005

Welling United manager Adrian Pennock praised his players for their work-rate against promotion rivals Farnborough Town at Park View Road tonight, writes Stephen McCartney.

Danny Kedwell's tenth goal of the season, from the penalty spot following a 30th minute handball, was enough to put the Kent side joint-top of the Nationwide Conference South table, level on points with Lewes and St Albans City.

But as the ball crashed out of the bottom left hand corner, put their by the striker's right-footed driven penalty, Wings' striker Matt Carruthers thumped the ball accidentally at the goalkeeper's face whilst celebrating, which resulted in the former Dover Athletic star being floored by an (alleged) punch from goalkeeper Kevin Scriven.

Scriven and Carruthers were then shown straight red cards by Cambridgeshire referee Mr W McPherson after the Welling striker received treatment.

But what pleased Pennock the most was the levels of commitment and fitness shown by his players soon after their FA Cup exploits at Huddersfield on Sunday, although he was missing Steve Perkins, James Pinnock, Lee Gledhill and Adrian Clarke through injury.

Welling started the game in a lively fashion and after being put through top-scorer Kedwell drove a shot from the edge of the penalty box wide of the upright after only 28 seconds.

Farnborough skipper Scott Canham's long range right-footed shot was never going to beat Welling goalkeeper Jamie Turner soon after.

But Turner then pumped a long free kick into the visitors penalty area and Kedwell headed just wide of the near post during a bright spell from the home side.

Impressive Welling full-back, Leon Solomon, whose signed a contract with the club, almost embarrassed Scriven out on the left but the former AFC Bournemouth goalkeeper did well to recover and tipped the ball over.

But after Carruthers' cross was handled inside the penalty area, Pennock admitted he felt the decision to send off his striker was "harsh".

Speaking in the post-match press conference, Pennock told www.kentishfootball.co.uk : "I thought the sending off was a little harsh.  

"Matt Carruthers just wanted to blast the ball into the back of the net but he shanked it.

"The sending off was the only disappointing thing of the night.  There were some very good individual displays and the fitness was superb."

Farnborough, however, had most of the ball during the second half, and started it by going close from Canham's 30-yard free kick, which was comfortably plucked out of the air by Turner and a minute later Carl Gibb's effort from the left hand side curled agonisingly wide of the far post.

The Welling bench were barking out tactical instructions to their players during the second half and Gibbs went close for Farnborough after 66 minutes but he dragged his shot wide.

Welling almost grabbed a second with a rare shot on goal with 17 minutes left.  Lee Shearer's free kick from midfield was brought under control by Kedwell, who turned to strike the ball from 16-yards but it rolled just wide.

And having soaked up more Farnborough pressure, Solomon played the ball down the right for substitute Matt Bodkin to latch onto.  The former Gillingham man did well to hold up the ball until Che Stadhart supported him in the middle of the box but his 12-yard shot was comfortably saved.

"I said to the boys that's the best we've played just through commitment," Pennock said after their eighth league win puts them in a very good position.

"The Sunday game took a lot out of us - we were superb on Sunday and I was really pleased with the way we conducted ourselves but today was a massive win.

"Farnborough are a good team, got some decent players and I thought we thoroughly deserved it.

Pennock takes his side to Weymouth on Saturday, before clashing with current league leaders Lewes at Park View Road in a crunch game on Saturday, 19th November.

"I've got to give the boys so much credit," said Pennock.  "They've been spot on since we've been here and they've showed me so much spirit today, guts and determination and wanted to win really.  Everything was there."

So what is Pennock looking to get from their next two games? "A win and a draw will be great," he replied.  "Weymouth will be buzzing because they've got Nottingham Forest in the (FA Cup) replay the Monday after we play them.

"So there's going to be a big gate there but we have to take one game at a time.

"We've unfortunately picked up long term injuries but the boys that have come in have done a fantastic job and I'm really pleased."

Although his side are sitting in third place in the table, Pennock has played down his promotion chances - for now.

"I've always said if we stay in the top half at the end of the season that means we've progressed as a club," he said modestly.

"It was hard to keep us in the league (last season), but I've got a brand new squad near enough, there's only Jamie Day and Matt Lee whose here from last season's squad.

"But the players we've got in have been superb since I've been here.  

"But the biggest thing would be come maybe January-February time and we're still there or there abouts, I'll maybe put my hand up and say we've got a little bit of a chance.

"But at the present time there's injuries, there will be other teams that come through, Farnborough will be there or there abouts, Lewes, Weymouth, Thurrock.

"There are big clubs with a lot of money that will come through - but if we're there come February then maybe I'll turn around and say we've got a chance."

Stephen McCartney
www.kentishfootball.co.uk



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