Welling United 0
Sutton United 0
Saturday 31 December 2005

Welling United were left to rue several missed chances on a frustrating day at Park View Road - but had to settle for their fifth consecutive league draw, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Wings, who have lost only twice in 20 league outings this season, drop to fifth in the table, and travel to sixth placed Thurrock on Tuesday night before their clash at third placed St Albans City next Saturday, on a six-game unbeaten run.

Having squandered numerous first half chances, Welling had their player of November award winner, Jamie Turner to thank for preventing Sutton United stealing a 34th minute lead.

The former Tonbridge Angels goalkeeper made a breathtaking save, diving to his left to tip over Robert Hughes' eight-yard header, which was flying into the top right hand corner, following Matt Gray's cross from the left.

That, however, would have been Sutton's consolation if the Kent side taken their earlier chances.

Danny Kedwell latched onto Barry Ashby's long ball but his lob over the advancing goalkeeper dropped wide, Jamie Day saw his low shot cleared off the line before being hacked to safety and Che Stadhart stabbed Matt Lee's cross just wide - all inside the opening 14 minutes.

Unmarked Rob Owen squandered a glorious chance to head Welling into a deserved 19th minute lead, but somehow sent Luke Howell's cross wide.

Midfielder Day should have scored on the half-hour mark, receiving Steve Perkins low pass, he brought the ball under control and with his left-foot found Phil Wilson from 16-yards.

It would have been an injustice had Hughes' header found the top corner of Welling's net.  Sutton survived another scare when Stadhart set up Rob Owen, and his shot ricochet of Wilson but the grateful goalkeeper grabbed the ball before it trickled across the line.

Another chance came Welling's way ten minutes into the second half when Leon Solomon's right-footed cross found Stadhart, whose glancing header flashed wide of the far post.

The former Margate striker nipped in front of his marker Ryan Palmer to meet Howell's cross from the other flank, but once again his header was off target.

Was it going to be one of those days for the Wings?  Once again they had Turner to thank to deny their Surrey visitors, tipping Matt Gray's shot around the post with 23 minutes left.

Substitute Matt Bodkin twice went agonisingly close to getting the winner their play deserved - twice being set up by Day.

His first chance, after 76 minutes, was driven just wide of the far post, and he was desperately unlucky eleven minutes later.

His right-footed shot from the edge of the penalty area, flew past the diving Wilson and was going to crash into the top far corner, but at the final moment curled cruelly wide.

Sutton, however, were grateful they got out of jail.

A frustrated Welling manager Adrian Pennock told www.kentishfootball.co.uk after the game: "We had too many chances - unbelievable.  We should have been four nil up at half-time.

"Their manager said after the game he can't believe they got away with it really.

"They weren't even half chances, they were massive chances for us and we couldn't hit the target - we just have to be a bit more clinical in front of goal."

But Pennock was pleased with the clean sheet and the performances of full-backs, Leon Solomon and Luke Howell.

"It's a clean sheet," he added.  "I think tactically we got it spot on today.  They play a 4-3-1-2 (formation) and tactically we got it right with the chances we had.   We should have won the game.

"Leon and Luke have been outstanding all the time, every game they play.  They seem to be getting better and better.

"We got Luke from Gillingham and he's delivery of the ball, he's tackling, everything about his game at the moment he's on fire.

"We asked both full-backs to get forward more which they have and Leon's got so much ability it's unbelievable.  He's got two good feet, his crossing the ball really well, defending properly so very pleased with both of them."

Pennock admits all the club's games are big - because they're doing so well this term.

Looking ahead to their trips to Thurrock and St Albans City in the next seven days, he added: "They are all massive games, whoever we play.

"It could be Dog & Duck Football Club it doesn't matter - they're all big games for us because we're up at the top of the league.

"It doesn't matter if we're playing the bottom three.  People are still going to say they're big games for us and expect us to win.

"The expectation levels have gone through the roof at the club.  I am more than happy to be where we are now.

"They are big games, we have seen Thurrock play here recently (a 1-1 draw on Boxing Day). We are more than capable of beating them.  St Albans are on a very good run, that will be a difficult tie."

The modest manager, however, is keeping everyone's feet at Park View Road firmly on the ground.

"As I've said before, there's a long way to go this season and if we can match or better what we've done in the first half of the season it's going to be a very exciting time for us.

"But we are not getting carried away.  I've said from the beginning we have to keep our feet firmly on the floor."

Stephen McCartney
Editor
www.kentishfootball.co.uk



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