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Sutton United
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Welling United |
Sutton United |
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Jamie Turner |
Goals |
Phil Wilson |
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Despite Welling losing 2-1 at home to Eastbourne Borough on Easter Monday the play-offs were still a possibility with the results of the other contenders going the Wings way. However, some lacklustre defending and a debatable penalty in today's match against Sutton destroyed any real hopes of a place in the play-offs.
With Danny Kedwell suspended, Steve Perkins partnered Che Stadhart upfront whilst Lee Gledhill returned to the starting line in place of Barry Ashby.
Wings boss Adrian Pennock must surely have despaired during the first-half as the home-side preceded to dominate and frustrate Welling. 4 minutes in and a rightwing cross from Matt Gray was flicked on by Luke Cornwall but Turner was fast enough to react and gathered the ball ahead of Chris Kennedy. It was a sign of things to come as Sutton took the lead just 10 minutes into the game.
A contentious free-kick was swung in by Gray which found an unmarked Cornwall who stooped low to head the ball home. The poor defending of set pieces has cost Welling dear this year and improvement is required if the Wings want to fight for a top 5 finish next season.
Welling were restricted to half chances and the best they came to levelling the score was through Matt Bodkin. His 25-yard right foot volley was comfortably saved by Phil Wilson.
The second period saw a much improved performance from the Wings as they showed a lot more energy on and off the pitch as they endeavoured to get the ball back in play as quickly as possible whenever it went out.
After some good work from Stadhart to force Phil Wilson into a quick clearance, the ball fell to Jamie Day who went for an audacious lob which fell inches over the bar.
Unfortunately, this promising start to the second-half was made meaningless when Sutton were awarded a debatable penalty on 70 minutes. John Guest was adjudged to have handled Wes Harrison's cross and after the referee had booked both Day and Turner for their protests, Gray converted the spot kick for The U's.
The Wings did pull one back ten minutes before the end when Martin Carthy fired the ball home from just outside the box. Regardless of a flurry of late chances, it was too little too late as the Wings hope of making the play-offs, were ended.
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