Welling United 1
Hayes 0
Saturday 17 September 2005

Pennock made no changes to the side that defeated Eastleigh 3-1 last weekend but Matt Carruthers was back in the squad. The resulting game last year ended in a 1-1 draw, with Wings player Lee Spiller dismissed, and it was very nearly history repeating itself as the Wings again found themselves down to ten men, and the game nearly finished as a draw.

The first chance of the game came from an Eastleigh free-kick after Lee Gledhill fouled Michael Bartley just outside the area. Kieran Knight's free-kick deflected off Rob Owen which sent the ball goal wards but it narrowly went wide. Hayes were dominating proceedings having the better of the chances and the Wings were sluggish in their play.

It took the Wings half an hour before their first decent chance at goal. A Jamie Day free-kick was taken quickly and passed forward to James Pinnock who turned the Hayes defence inside out. Kevin Davies met the resulting ball but he dropped the cross. Mark Saunders was there to nearly back-heel the Wings in front but Davies made up for his earlier mistake by pouncing on the lose ball. The resulting throw by Davies saw Jamie Day shown a yellow card for a late challenge on Josh Scott.

The Wings were certainly starting to get into the game and with the introduction of Matt Carruthers Welling looked a far better side. Adrian Clarke hit a fierce volley just wide of the post after a well worked cross from James Pinnock. Welling should have been one up just before the break; Steve Perkins capitalised on a Peter Collins mistake and was through one on one with Hayes keeper Davies. However, Steve Perkins blazed the shot over the bar and both sides went in at the break on level terms.

Six minutes into the second-half and Hayes were forced to make a substitution, as Peter Collins was stretchered off clearly in pain. Robbie Williams replaced him. An hour into the game and the Wings were struck a major blow. A quickly taken free-kick by Jamie Day warranted a second yellow card in the eyes of Mr Hooper after Day was instructed not to take the free-kick early.

With the Wings down to ten men Hayes were certainly trying to make best of their one man advantage by pressing forward looking for the winner. However, this allowed the Wings to counter. Matt Carruthers was brought down and awarded a free-kick which was quickly taken by Mark Saunders who passed out wide to Carruthers. Carruthers crossed the ball to Steve Perkins who headed the ball past the helpless Kevin Davies.

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