Welling United 3-2 Oxford City
The cliche in football is things even themselves out over the course of the season. The Wings who just a few weeks ago conceded a stoppage time equaliser against Truro, today scored a last minute winner to shoot them up to 4th in the table. In truth The Wings have played better and been defeated this season, so this result will come as a relief to Manager Steve King and show his side can win ugly.
Welling started brightly and Anthony Acheampong headed a deep Jack Jebb corner wide in the 5th minute. However despite this bright start Oxford took the lead in the 10th minute slightly against the run of play. Kabongo Tshminga latched onto a through ball before rounding Dan Wilks to coolly slot into the net.
It was another home game that The Wings needed to go and chase and they huffed and puffed to get back in the game. August player of the month Brendan Kiernan saw a shot deflected for a corner.
The woodwork then prevented Welling an equaliser Jack Jebb’s free-kick caused chaos in the Oxford box before cannoning off the post, in the same passage of play Acheampong saw a shot blocked on the line for a corner.
The Welling pressure finally told and they equalised in the 31st minute, great play from Jack Jebb allowed him to roll the ball to Brendan Kiernan who calmly stroked the ball home from just inside the area for his 5th goal of the season. With their tails up Welling looked to get ahead and Danny Mills done well to win the ball in a dangerous area but he shot straight at King when a cut back may have been the better option.
City did push forward in passages and a dangerous ball from Reece Fleet into the area evaded everyone.
Just before half time The Wings thought they had gone ahead, a fierce strike from Kiernan was parried by Oxford keeper Craig King who was clearly carrying an injury, Mills was on hand to stab the loose ball home but the linesman flag denied him his first Welling goal that his performance had deserved as the striker looked very much onside when the shot was struck.
On the back foot for most of the first half Oxford show much more intent in the second half and they were causing Welling problems on the flanks, Wiltshire cut inside before shooting at Wilks.
Acheampong almost got a goal when a free kick from Jebb was prodded goalwards by the central defender but lacked the power to trouble King.
Oxford were having some joy down the Welling left and Wiltshire cut inside before flashing another great cross across the box but again evaded Patterson in the area.
As the game reached its last quarter it became a little frantic and Jebb did well to chest a high ball before volleying over. Finally the side from DA16 got the goal they craved. In the 72nd minute Braham-Barrett celebrating a call up to the Montserrat national team whipped in a perfect cross that David Ijaha glanced a header expertly past King. The Wings faithful would have been forgiven for hoping to shut up shop and see out the final 15 minutes, that did not happen. Oxford won a penalty after Nassim L’Ghoul stuck out a leg and Godwin-Malife went down after consulting with his assiant referee Jack Packman gave a controversial penalty affter the incident looked to take place just outside the area. Matt Patterson stepped up and The Wings will have felt some justification as his effort cannoned off of the cross bar and behind.
Thinking The Wings had escaped they appeared to press the self destruct button. Audel lost the ball cheaply in defence and the ball was played out to Ben Jefford on the left and he produced a low cross for Matt Patterson to make amends for his penalty miss and tuck past Wilks in the 82nd minute. However with time ticking away and The Wings heading for another frustrating point at home, Welling won a free kick. Keeper Dan Wilks drilled a free kick from the Welling half into a crowded Oxford penalty area, the ball fell kindly for Anthony Acheampong and the fans favourite smashed the ball past King to break Oxford hearts and give Welling their first back to back wins of the season.
Welling now hit the road and a trip to the home of radio as they face Chelsmford City in another big encounter next Saturday.
