Welling remain 3rd in the National League South table after recording a win against local rivals Dartford. The wings followed up a disappointing result against Gloucester City with a terrific performance against the darts which keeps them in the top 3.
Welling returned to league action following their FA Cup win, with a home game against Gloucester City, who found themselves struggling in 18th position with only 2 wins from their opening 9 games.
Jack Jebb nearly gave the wings the lead inside the opening 3 minutes when he poked a shot just wide of the post from 8 yards out. Jebb was then presented with another fine opportunity on 14 minutes, when Durojaiye's through ball found him in space in the box. But Jebb's composure failed him as he fired high over the bar.
Welling continued to exert their dominance on the game and really should have taken the lead on the stroke of half time. David Moli was sent through one on one with the Gloucester keeper, but his shot lacked accuracy and fizzed wide of the post and the team's entered the break at 0-0.
It was Gloucester who came out of the traps quickest in the 2nd half, creating a couple of half chances, before they then took the lead on the hour mark. Poor defending from the Welling back four allowed the City players to pass it around the edge of their box far too comfortable and as the space was created, Zack Kotwica hit an effort at goal from 20 yards which caught the Welling keeper off guard and Gloucester were in front.
The final 30 minutes of the game saw Gloucester retreat deeper and deeper into their own half as Welling increased the pressure in search of an equalizer. Unfortuntely for the home fans, the goal never came as the City defence stayed strong and ensured Welling struggled to create anything clear cut. Wings fans will certainly be coming away from this game wondering how they've lost, with their team recording 56% possession and 22 shots on goal, compared with Gloucester's 7.
Dartford had been tipped as playoff candidates before the season kicked off but were exceeding all expectations as they sat top of the division after nine games, recording seven victories and only one loss so far this season. Welling were looking to bounce back from a disappointing home defeat against Gloucester City in their last game.
It only took 5 minutes for the first good chance to come. David Moli and Joe Healy combined well with a one-two inside the Dartford box, but Moli's shot was straight at Darts keeper Deren Ibrahim and he stood tall to pull off the save.
Welling had controlled the opening 25 minutes of play, with Dartford only managing 1 shot on goal, and the wings dominance paid off as they took the lead on 27 minutes through central midfielder Joe Healy with a low effort which found the bottom corner.
Healy bagged his and Welling's second of the game towards the end of the first half, when a Tom Richards cross cleared everyone in the Dartford box and found Healy at the back post for an easy tap in. Welling took a 2-0 lead into the break after a slick first half performance.
The second half made for dull viewing as Welling looked content to sit on their two goal lead, and Dartford offered nothing in the way of any sort of challenge. Joe Healy, in search of his first career hat trick, came closest to scoring again when he saw his late free kick go over the bar by a matter of inches.
Both managers were interviewed after the game between the local rivals, with Chris Ball saying "I thought we played very well today. The lads had to show real character after the loss last week to Gloucester and they came out with a real point to prove today. We took on a very good Dartford side who had only lost one game before today and we played them off the park and I'm pleased we could send our fans home with the local bragging rights today".
Dartford manager Tony Burman commented "We just didn't turn up. All credit to Welling but I think it was a case of us playing poorly today rather than them playing well. We'll pick ourselves up from this and we're confident we can bounce back with a good result at Chelmsford next week".
Welling United came into this tie as heavy favourites against their lower league opposition and manager Chris Ball took the opportunity to rotate his squad and bring in some fringe players to the starting lineup.
28 seconds into the game and the wings could have found themselves 1-0 up very early on as Flo Bojaj missed a clear cut opportunity from only a few yards out. A low cross came in from Adekunle on the left wing, Bojaj met the cross and hit a powerful effort directly at Leiston keeper Garnham who didn't know much about the save as the ball hit him and cannoned back out and away from goal.
Welling were completely dominant throughout the entire first half mustering up 9 shots at goal and it was right on the strole of half time that they eventually took the lead. Durojaiye played a pinpoint pass from deep into the feet of Adekunle who controlled expertly before turning his shot into the bottom corner of the net.
However, the first action was not over there as Leiston immediately hit back with a goal of their own. Wide man Joe Marsden scored a beautifully controlled shot from just inside the Welling box to equalize with Leiston's first effort on goal in the match.
Welling came out for the second half with the bit between their teeth and were handed the perfect opportunity on the hour mark to get their heads back in front. Leiston defender pushed Flo Bojaj in the box and the referee wasted no time in awarding a penalty to the wings. Joe Healy stepped up and rather embarassingly attempted a cheeky chip down the centre of the goal, only for the Leiston keeper to read the move and stand tall for an easy catch into his hands.
The wings continued to dominate the game, and despite having more than 20 shots on goal, it looked like the match was going to fizzle out into a draw. But then in stoppage time, up stepped substitute Tom Richards to give Welling a well deserved win and the wings progress to the 4th qualifying stage. The ball was lumped forward from Joe Healy and Richards outfought his defender to get on the end of a rather hopeful looking ball and poked the ball into the back of the net.
Chris Ball said "We made hard work of it today, but I'm glad we eventually got the result we deserved and we're looking forward to seeing who we draw in the next round".
Welling have been handed a home tie in the 4th qualifying round of the FA Cup against National League opposition in Maidenhead.
It will be the first time this season that Chris Ball's men will come up against higher league opposition and their fans will be looking forward to seeing how they pit themselves against a higher ranked side.
Welling will come into the game feeling confident they can get something out of the match as they are currently flying high in the National League South, sitting in 3rd position.
Maidenhead, on the other hand, find themselves at the wrong end of the National League, currently struggling in 22nd place with only 2 wins from their opening 12 games.
Congratulations to Welling United manager Chris Ball who has picked up the National League South September Manager of the Month award.
Ball has led the team to four wins this month including a solid 2-0 against local rivals Dartford.
Upon receiving his award, Ball said "This award is testament to the whole team this month who have been brilliant in every single game. Even the one match we lost against Gloucester, we were by far the better side and I can't fault the lads for their performances. Hopefully we can kick on from here and try to get ourselves to the top of this division over the next couple of months".
Bobby Wilkinson of Wealdstone and Jamie Howell of Eastbourne Borough were also recognised this month, finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively.
Welling United have recorded back to back draws in the league already this month which has seen them drop to 5th in the Vanarama National League South table. The Kent side are now 5 points off top spot, currently occupied by Chelmsford City, and Chris Ball's men will be looking to get back to winning ways as soon as possible.
Welling United took on 20th placed Concord Rangers in terrential downpour today and both sides struggled to cope with the dreadful conditions. Welling saw the return of Pierre Joseph-Dubois, Tom Richards, Connor Dymond, Jack Jebb and David Moli to their lineup following the win against Leiston in the FA Cup last week, as they looked to keep up with the league leaders.
And it was Joseph-Dubois who quickly gave the wings the lead, when he got on the end of a Ben Jefford cross to fire home a powerful effort.
Within 5 minutes, it was 2-0 to the wings as Jack Jebb raced into the Rangers box, played a low pass across the face of goal to give David Moli an easy tap in.
Concord Rangers long ball tactics were not working in the weather conditions, but Welling were moving the ball around nicely on the floor and stringing together some decent passing moves, although chances were few and far between for the remainder of the first half.
Midway through the second half (which had started slowly), Concord Rangers finally found a way through the Welling defence and made it count as they pulled one back. However, it was actually Welling defender Ben Jefford who turned the ball into his own net as he attempted to clear the ball at the back post after a cross had come in from Kyron Farrell.
That goal gave Rangers a renewed confidence and they pushed forward in search of the equalizer. Welling were clearly rattled and Rangers were rewarded for their persistance when a hopeful long ball over the top found striker Femi Akinwande all alone and one on one with the Welling keeper. He rounded the onrushing goalie and slotted home to make it 2-2!
Welling welcomed Bognor Regis Town to Park View Road on a calm Autumn afternoon with temperatures at around 14 degrees, offering much better conditions for today's game than the previous fixtures against Concord Rangers. Both sides came into this one with 3 wins in their last 5 games and Regis had seemed to have turned a corner after a slow start to the season, which left them still lumbering in 18th position at kick off.
Olumide Odajaiye was rested by Welling manager Chris Ball, who opted for a pairing of Jack Jebb and Joe Healy in central midfield, and Jordan Adekunle returned on the left wing after being left out against Concord Rangers due to injury.
The first half was a rather drab affair with both sides seeming to cancel one another out. The best chance of the half falling to Joseph-Dubois with a headed effort for Welling hitting the side netting after good work down the left from Adekunle.
Joseph-Dubois quickly had another good effort at the start of the second half, when another Adekunle cross found him at the back post only for his header this time to crack against the crossbar.
As Chris Ball became noticably frustrated on the sidelines, he introduced Olumide Odajaiye on the hour mark in the hope his main man could liven up the game. And he very nearly did, firing an impressive effort only just over the bar within minutes of coming on.
The introduction of Durojaiye was an inspired decision from Ball as his team immediately looked better with the Nigerian centre mid taken charge of the game and he put the wings 1-0 up on 70 minutes with a wonderfully timed volley from outside the 18 yard box which rattled the back of the Regis net.
Welling had given away a two goal advantage in their previous fixture, and the wings again let their lead slip here as Bognor fought their way back into the game and equalized through wing back Dan Beck with only 5 minutes remaining.
All of a sudden we had an end to end game and an exciting final few minutes saw both sides squander a good chance to win the game and they both had to settle for a point.
Welling started with a strong lineup as they took on higher league opposition in the FA Cup for the first time this season, as Chris Ball was clearly looking for his team to progress to the 1st round in search for the financial benefits it can bring with a decent draw. Maidenhead would welcome the opportunity to get away from league action where their form has been dire so far this season.
Welling suffered an early blow in the game when Durojaiye had to leave the field inside 8 minutes after picking up an injury. He was replaced by more attack minded midfielder Joe Healy.
The first half saw very little action as both sides looked a little nervous at the prospect of making it through to the 1st round. The closest either team came to scoring was when Maidenhead striker Jake Hyde's shot from 20 yards went about 2 feet wide of the post.
However, the second half kicked off with immediate action. Joe Healy played a neat through ball into the Maidenhead box, and as Nanetti was running onto the ball, his legs were taken away by Maidenhead defender Cameron Green and the referee awarded a penalty. Healy stepped up and struck the penalty into the top left hand corner, leaving the goalkeeper no chance. 1-0 Welling.
But Welling have been struggling to hold onto leads at home, and today was no exception as Maidenhead drew level on the hour mark. A high looping cross from James Mulley on the right wing, was met by the head of Ben House who directed his header into the far corner to level the scores.
On 72 minutes, it was the wings who once again took the lead. Central midfield pairing Jack Jebb and Joe Healy combined well in the Maidenhead box, before Jebb struck a low shot through a crowd of defenders and past the helpless Maidenhead keeper.
But again Welling let the lead slip. Only 6 minutes after going behind, Maidenhead were level again. Ben House again the scorer, this time working an opening for himself beating two defenders before slotting a nice effort into the back of the net at the near post.
Maidenhead then took the lead for the first time in the game only 2 minutes later. Ben House completing his hat trick as a cross from Sean Marks found him waiting at the back post for an easy tap in. Poor marking from the Welling defence.
Welling threw everything at Maidenhead for the final 10 minutes, but the equalizer never came as Maidenhead parked the bus to great effect and managed to shut out the wings, who drop out of this year's competition.
Chris Ball said after the game "It would have been nice to get a win here and I thought we did enough to win the game. A couple of lapses in concentration at the back have cost us here and it's disappointing to go out of the competition. But we'll turn our attention back to the league as we really need to push on and pick up our form if we're going to mount a title challenge this year".
Olumide Durojaiye will miss up to six weeks of action after suffering a twisted ankle in the FA cup match against Maidenhead on Saturday.
Durojaiye will be sorely missed as he has been a pivotal figure in the Welling team so far this season, contributing 3 goals in 13 appearances and maintaining an average rating of 7.32.
Manager Chris Ball said "I'm gutted to lose Olumide. Not only is he one of our best players but he's a leader in this squad and spurs a lot of the other lads on. But we'll rally round and do our best without him and this is a time when I'll be looking for some of the other players that have been looking for more opportunities to step up and show their worth".
Welling United amassed 4 games without a win in the National League South before finally ending that run with a solid home victory against St Albans City. The Kent side remain 7th in the table amidst the playoff places, but are still seen by many to be underachieving with pre season hopes of lifting the title.
Welling were back to league action this week with a difficult away game at 4th placed Wealdstone.
It took 17 minutes before either team creating a decent chance at goal and that first chance fell to Welling winger Jordan Adekunle. A long cross was played in from the right side which cleared everyone to find Adekunle at the back post but his headed effort could only find the side netting.
Following that chance, Wealdstone started to take control of the match and started to carve out chances of their own. On 29 minutes, they took the lead when Elliot Benyon headed home from close range.
Wealdstone continued to pressure the Welling goal and nearly scored again on the 40 minute mark. The ball landed at the feet of Dan Fitchett who struck a powerful effort at goal and was only denied by the brave block of Jack Jebb.
Fitchett did then make his mark on the game with two goals in 2 minutes right at the end of the first half taking Wealdstone into the break completely in control.
Welling came out for the 2nd half looking much more motivated and it wasn't long before they got themselves on the scoresheet and gave the travelling fans a glimmer of hope. David Moli bagged the goal after running onto a long ball over the top from Joe Healy.
The wings were looking really up for this game now after their terrible first half performance and on 68 minutes they got a 2nd, a headed effort from Joe Healy.
Welling boss Chris Ball threw caution to the wind and went 4 up front for the final 10 minutes in search of an equalizer and it should of come on 83 minutes when David Moli found himself one on one with the Wealdstone keeper, but his shot went high and wide.
With Welling pushing so many men forward, it was leaving gaps at the back and Wealdstone exploited that with a counter attack on 87 minutes which resulted in Dan Fitchett completing his hat trick and securing the win for Wealdstone.
Welling came into the game against 17th placed Weston Super Mare looking to put a run of 3 games without a win behind them.
The wings moved the ball around nicely in the first 25 minutes of the game, controlling the possession, but failed conviction in the final third as they struggled to create decent chances.
And it was Weston Super Mare who took the lead on the half hour mark with their first real attack of the gam, Jake Reid with a good header putting them in front.
Welling continued to dominate the first half and their best chance of the half came right on the stroke of half time as Adekunle smashed a shot into the side netting from close range when it would have been easier to score.
The teams came out for the second half and Weston Super Mare had reverted to a more defensive formation in order to protect their one goal lead.
On the hour mark, Welling had their equalizer when a rebounded shot feel straight to Flo Bojaj who reacted fastest and hammered home to make it 1-1.
With the wings fans expecting their team to push on and win the game, they were disappointed as Welling seemed to take their foot off the gas and allowed Super Mare back into the match. And it was the home side who took the lead again with a powerful strike from Tristan Plummer.
Just as it looked like the wings were consigned to their 3rd defeat in a row, they were thrown a lifeline in the 92nd minute when the referee awarded a penalty for a trip on Flo Bojaj inside the box. Joe Healy stepped up and comfortably tucked the ball away to rescue a point for Welling.
St Albans City were quickly becoming known as the draw specialists of the National League South, having drawn 5 of their last 6 league games. What it did show is that St Albans were a tough team to beat, at a time when Chris Ball and his Welling side desperately needed a win.
It was City who had the first opening of the game on the 10 minute mark when striker Sam Merson was put clean through on goal but fired his shot over the bar.
And it was Welling who took the lead on 19 minutes when Ben Jefford crossed from the left wing for Flo Bojaj to meet the ball at the near post and flick his shot in at the near post.
Most of Welling's best work was coming down the left flank and on the stroke of half time they nearly scored again when Tom Richards crossed to the back post for Joseph Dubois to head over from close range when he really should have put the wings two up.
Shortly after the break, Joseph-Dubois made amends for that miss and did score for the wings. Again a Jefford cross came in from the left and Joseph-Dubois applied the finish at the back post.
Joseph-Dubois then turned provider as he ran down the right flank, crossed to the back post where Tom Richards was waiting to head home for Welling's 3rd.
It wasn't over yet though as St Albans looked for a way back into the game and they found it through Nathaniel Pinney who ran onto a through ball over the top from midfield and struck a tidy finish past Perntreou in the Welling goal.
The Welling fans were looking nervous as they'd seen their side thrown leads away time and time again over the past few weeks, but today their team held firm and saw out the game to record their first win in 5, which keeps them just inside the playoff spots.
Welling United followed up their win against St Albans City with a draw at Hemel Hempstead Town and a huge home victory against playoff rivals Eastbourne Borough. It sees the Kent outfit maintain 7th place in the table and they sit 7 points off top spot, currently occupied by Chelmsford City.
Both sides came into this game on a poor run of form, with Hemel Hempstead Town only recording 1 win in their last 11 games, and Welling United only recording 1 win in their last 5.
Charlie Sheringham was the obvious dangerman for Hemel Hempstead Town and after the home side had made a strong start to the game it was their main man that put them in front on 23 minutes. A deep cross found Sheringham attacking the box and he scooped his shot into the top corner of the Welling goal to give Town the lead.
Sheringham then doubled his tally on 34 minutes, again latching onto a deep cross and this time finishing with a headed effort.
Welling had looked lacklustre for the entire first half but managed to carve out a goal in the 42nd minute when Tom Richards played a ball into the box from deep, for Joseph-Dubois to attack and finish with a first time shot past Nigel Holmes in the Hemel Hempstead goal.
Welling have been stronger in the 2nd half a few times this season and again they came out with a point to prove today. 13 minutes in and they equalized through Tom Richards, with a diving header from a Joseph-Dubois cross and the wide men for Welling were starting to take control of this game.
Welling were starting to get on top as the 2nd half progressed and their increased pressure saw them take the lead on 74 minutes. After some intricate passing inside the Hempstead box, Joe Healy struck a powerful effort into the top corner from 10 yards out.
The final 15 minutes saw a change in tactics from both sides as Town threw men forward and United sat deep in an attempt to protect their lead. But it was in vein as the increased numbers going forward from Hemel Hempstead paid off as they bagged the equalizer on 85 minutes through an Ogo Obi goal.
The game ended in a 3-3 draw which doesn't help either side get out of the rut they both find themselves in.
Welling welcomed Eastbourne Borough to Park View Road today in a match that saw two sides currently occupying playoff spots. Welling boss Chris Ball also welcomed back central midfielder Olumide Dorojaiye back to his starting lineup, following his return from injury.
The home side started the game well and were looking promising going forward, with Joseph-Dubois and Bojaj both coming close to giving the wings the lead inside the opening 20 minutes.
But Eastbourne Borough are a good footballing side and after riding the early storm, they played some attractive football of their own and created a couple of good chances for their two front men, who were also unable to find the back of the net.
With both sides creating some good moves, the first goal actually came from a dead ball situation as Tom Richards struck a gorgeous free kick into the top corner from 22 yards to give Welling the lead.
The lead didn't last long though as Eastbourne Borough hit back only 6 minutes later with a goal from striker Yemi Odubade, his 17th goal in 18 games this season!!
Welling started the second half as strong as they did the first, and Joseph-Dubois missed an absolute sitter 10 minutes after the restart from only 4 yards out. The winger then went close again on the hour mark as he headed only inches wide at the back post from a Tom Richards cross.
The wings continued to drive forward looking for the winner and on 79 minutes they got it. Striker David Moli bagging his 8th goal of the season with an accurate finish from inside the area.
Eastbourne Borough offered little in their search for an equalizer and Welling easily saw the game out to give them a massive home win.
Welling United have been handed a home tie in the 3rd qualifying round of the FA Trophy, against Canvey Island.
Welling will be strong favourites, being the higher ranked side and having home advantage.
Key ties in the round will see Hemel Hempstead Town take on Chelmsford City, Hungerford Town take on Whitehawk and Braintree host Hampton & Richmond Borough.
Connor Dymond is set to miss up to six weeks of football for Welling United, after suffering a calf strain in the match against Hemel Hempstead Town.
The 23 year old centre back has been a key figure in Chris Ball's squad so far this year with 15 appearances for the club.
Manager Chris Ball said "We'll miss Connor as he is a versatile player who has already covered a number of positions for us this year. He can play at the back, on the wing or through the centre of midfield and gives us plenty of options in each area".
Welling welcomed Essex side Canvey Island to Park View Road for their FA Trophy 3rd qualifying round tie, in a match the wings were expected to win comfortably.
It was Canvey Island who took a shock early lead though inside 5 minutes as Jordan Flanagan picked up the ball on the edge of the Welling 18 yard box, turned and struck a wonderful shot right into the top corner leaving Perntreou no chance in the Welling goal.
The wings wasted no time getting back on level terms as David Moli drew them level in the 12th minute with an easy tap in from a Adekunle cross.
Three minutes later, the reds were in front when Sean Francis headed home his first goal of the season from a corner.
On 32 minutes, Welling nearly made it 3 when Adekunle raced forward to get his head on a Nanetti cross only to see it cannon back off the crossbar.
Welling continued their search for a 3rd goal into the second half and after missing a couple of chances, Christian Nanetti scored the goal that put Welling firmly in control of the tie on the hour mark.
Welling added a 4th late on with a penalty from Odajaiye who came off the bench for the final 15 minutes of the game and the wings progress to the 1st round with a good display.
Welling United will take on fellow National League South side Concord Rangers in the 1st round of the FA Trophy.
The game will be played at The Aspect Arena on Saturday 16th December. The two sides have already met once this season in the league with that game finishing in a 2-2 draw after Rangers had fought back from 2-0 down.
The 1st round draw also pitted National League sides Aldershot Town and Ebbsfleet United together in what is sure to be the tie of the round. The other notable tie will see Tranmere travel to Wrexham.
Welling United remain in 7th position in the National League South after extending their unbeaten run in the league to 6 games, and the gap to the chasing pack has been extended to 5 points as the wings continue to chase down Chelmsford City at the top.
7th placed Welling travelled to Havant & Waterlooville in the National League South this afternoon in a match that could put real daylight between the top 7 and the chasing pack if Welling were to win.
The wings had the best of the entire first half with a total of 7 shots on goal, compared with Havant's 1. They took a 1-0 lead into the break with a stunning goal from Joseph-Dubois, who scored a 25 yard bullet in the 41st minute.
The 2nd half was a completely different story as it was Havant with all the pressure as they went in search of an equalizer. Welling looked happy to sit back and play the game out for a 1-0 win.
The tactic backfired on the wings as Havant bagged the equlizer through veteran striker James Hayter, bagging his 7th goal of the season.
Welling sprung back into life after that goal but the damage was done and they had to settle for the draw.
Chippenham Town have been the huge success story in the National League South so far this season. Despite a pre season prediction to finish rock bottom of the division, they are currently flying high in 8th and pushing for a playoff spot. This would be no walk in the park for Welling United, despite Chris Ball's team coming into this fixture on a 6 game unbeaten run in all competitions.
Welling started the game in terrific fashion though, taking the lead as early as the 2nd minute when David Moli raced into the box to tap home a cross from Joseph-Dubois who had done brilliantly down the right.
That early goal set the tone for the first half as the fans were treated to 45 minutes of end to end football with both sides mustering up 15 shots at goal between them. Chippenham enjoyed the lions share of possession but the best chances fell to Welling and right on the stroke of half time, they doubled their lead when centre back Ian Gayle attacked the near post from a corner and headed in for 2-0.
With Chippenham expected to attack hard in the 2nd half, Welling sat deeper and Chris Ball seemed to be looking for his team to play on the counter attack for the remaining 45 minutes.
Mitchell Nelson was dismissed for a second yellow card in the 55th minute, which would leave Welling more than half an hour to play with 10 men. Chris Ball dropped to 5 at the back as he looked for his team to hold on.
To be fair to him, Chris Ball's tactics proved to be spot on as his Welling side defended well with plenty of men behind the ball and Chippenham couldn't get near the away side's goal, only managing hopeful pot shots from well outside the area. Welling secured the 2-0 victory and a big 3 points against an overachieving Chippenham side.
When asked about the game, Chris Ball said "We did a professional job today on a good side. We went down to 10 men but the lads rallied really well and all put a shift in today. I couldn't ask for anymore. Chippenham are a decent side and I'm sure they'll bounce back from this". When asked if Mitchell Nelson will return to the starting lineup following his red card today, Ball replied "Of course".
The FA Trophy 1st round saw Welling travel to Canvey Island to take on Concord Rangers, with both sides coming into the game off the back of solid league wins.
With both sides looking to bag some all important prize money from progressing in the tournament, the game started at a frantic pace with both teams scoring inside the opening 16 minutes. It was Welling who took the lead through Tom Richards who got himself on the end of a pass across goal from Joseph-Dubois. But Rangers were level within 2 minutes, hitting straight back with a Femi Akinwande strike.
Only 10 minutes after that, Welling were back in front. Centre back Jack Parkinson marched forward for a corner and planted his powerful header in the back of the net.
Concord Rangers showed great heart as they fought back again, levelling the scores on the stroke of half time. A free kick on the right side of the 18 yard box was played in low to the near post, where Harry Stratton beat the Welling defence to the ball to hit a low shot which beat Perntreou at his near post.
The first half action wasn't finished there as Femi Akinwande bagged his 2nd of the game to give Rangers a 3-2 lead at the break. It was a speculative effort from a long way out and Welling keeper Perntreou will be disappointed to have not done better.
The 2nd half took a while to warm up with both sides coming out rather tentatively. It seemed that both sides recognised the importance of the next goal and it made for a nervy game.
Concord Rangers were the ones to settle their nerves though when they extended their lead to 4-2 with another goal from Femi Akinwande as he completed his hat trick.
Welling all of a sudden had nothing to lose and it spurred them into life and 3 minutes later they were handed a lifeline when referee Colin Lymer awarded a penalty to the wings for a trip inside the box, which Olumide Durojaiye converted to make it 4-3.
As Concord Rangers tried to see out the remainder of the game, Welling pushed more men forward and were rewarded for their persistance in the final minute of the game when Flo Bojaj fired a shot from just inside the area right into the bottom corner of the net and levelled the scores to take the tie to a replay.
After the game, Chris Ball said "What an amazing game for the fans and I'm sure ours are going home happier today after the comeback. The lads showed great character to come back from 2 goals down in the final 15 minutes and I feel we fully deserve the replay on the balance of play. With home advantage in the replay I'm confident we can progress in the competition, but we know Rangers will give us another good game so we'll need to be on our A game".
"Busy Christmas Period Can Provide Opportunities" Says Ball
Chris Ball is about to enter his first Christmas period in football management, a time when the English football schedule always becomes very crowded, but the manager says he's looking forward to it.
With Welling set to play 4 games in the space of 10 days, Ball said "This could be make or break time if we're going to mount a title challenge this year. Stringing together a run of decent results over Christmas can propel you on to greater things for the 2nd half of the season and that's what we'll be looking to do".
The busy schedule can be notoriously tough on the legs of the squad and when asked what he thought about this the gaffer responded "When you have so many games in such a short space of time, it's inevitable that I'll need to rotate the squad. This opens the door for some of the players that have been looking for more playing time and gives them an opportunity to impress. I'll reward anyone who gives me hard work in training and a decent performance on matchday and this is the perfect stage for these players to force their way into the starting lineup".
In the coming week and a half, Welling will take on Bath City, Braintree and East Thurrock United in the National League South, as well as a replay against Concord Rangers in the FA Trophy.
On a rainy evening in Kent, we were here for the replay of the FA Trophy first round and waited to see who might be suffering a Christmas hangover.
Only 28 seconds into the game, it looked like we had our answer as Ben Jefford brought down Akinwande in the box with a clumsy tackle and gave away a sloppy penalty. Danny Parish stepped up to take it, but Perntreou in the Welling goal pulled off a fantastic save to let Jefford off the hook.
Welling recovered well from their early scare though and gradually started to dominate the first half possession and their best chance came on 29 minutes when Joseph-Dubois cracked a good effort against the Rangers post.
On 38 minutes, Jordan Adekunle was played in on the left side of the penalty area, but saw his shot smash against the side netting.
It felt like Welling were coming closer to a goal and on 41 minutes they were handed the ideal opportunity to get it when they were awarded a penalty of their own. Joe Healy made no mistake in hitting the back of the net and putting the wings 1-0 up before half time.
Concord Rangers came out for the 2nd half looking lively. However, it was the home side who scored again only 9 minutes into the half when David Moli put his powerful header past the Rangers goalkeeper from a Joseph-Dubois cross.
Welling continued to dominate proceedings for the remainder of the game as Concord struggled to get a foothold in the match. There were no more goals and Welling progress to round 2 with a comprehensive 2-0 victory with a good performance to go with it.
Welling played 3 league games over the Christmas and New Year period and have managed to extend their unbeaten run to 12 games in all competitions. It sees the wings climb one place in the table to 6th position, although they still trail top side Whitehawk by 9 points.
Despite high hopes of a top 6 finish this year, Bath City found themselves in mid table obscurity coming into this game with playoff challengers Welling.
It was the away side that had the better of the first half, controlling most of the possession and creating a number of decent chances. Striker Jamie Lucas squandering a couple of one on one opportunities with the Welling keeper.
But it was Welling who came closest to scoring right on the stroke of half time as Joseph-Dubois struck a curling effort against the crossbar after some good work cutting inside from the right.
The first chance of the 2nd half fell to Welling when they were awarded a free kick on the edge of the 18 yard box. Joe Healy stepped up but sent his effort inches over the bar.
In a rather uneventful half, the next significant chance didn't come until the 80th minute when Joseph-Dubois was played through by Joe Healy but his effort was well saved by Bath keeper Luke Southwood.
With only 15 seconds left on the clock, Bath City were awarded what looked like a soft penalty. A looping cross came in from the left and the referee deemed Ian Gayle to have jumped unfairly with Bath striker Jamie Lucas and the spot kick was awarded.
Welling will feel justice was done though as Jack Compton struck his penalty against the crossbar and the referee blew his whistle for the end of the game, finishing in a 0-0 draw.
When asked about the penalty incident, Chris Ball replied "It was a shocking decision from the officials and nearly cost us a point today. Luckily he missed the kick and we wasn't punished for the shocking decision".
Braintree came into the game with Welling off the back of a 1-0 win against local rivals Chelmsford City, so were full of confidence. But the wings were in good form also, on a run of 10 games unbeaten in all competitions.
The first half an hour was a cautious affair with neither side committing too many players forward resulting in no real chances for either side.
On 38 minutes, it was Welling who did take the lead though. Jordan Adekunle making full use of his pace to get down the left wing before crossing into the box, where David Moli rose highest and powered a header down into the bottom corner from 12 yards out.
The second half was almost a carbon copy of the first. An extremely slow half an hour with not much to comment on, followed by a goal out of nowhere for Welling. This time it came from substitute Flo Bojaj as he raced onto a through ball from Joseph-Dubois to hammer a low shot past Braintree keeper Neil McDonald.
Braintree then finally sprung into life as they pulled one back only 4 minutes later when Kairo Mitchell finished off a good passing move to make it 2-1.
It left 9 minutes for a nervous looking Welling side to hold on for victory. Chris Ball changed up his tactics to go 5 at the back in an attempt to shut out the 3 front men of Braintree and tactically the decision was spot on as the wings held firm to take all 3 points.
Welling's New Years Day fixture would see them make the short trip to Essex to play East Thurrock United, who were struggling in 20th position in the league. Despite their lowly position though, East Thurrock came into the game on the back of 3 straight wins in the league in which they had scored 12 goals! With only 2 days since their last game, Welling boss Chris Ball made no less than 7 changes to his starting lineup.
It was the away side that started brightly and Welling were very nearly in front inside 3 minutes when Jack Jebb hit a shot which looked destined for the back of the net, only to be thwarted by a fabulous save from Lukas Lidakevicius in the Thurrock goal.
As it turned out that was the only real talking point in a dul first half where both sides struggled to break down the other and a few hopeful long shots were the closest either came to taking the lead.
The second half kicked off in very much the same vein with both sides cancelling one another out and the game seemed set to fizzle out into a bore draw.
That was until the 74th minute when a deep cross from the right beat all of the Welling defenders to find Shaquille Hippolyte-Patrick waiting at the back post, who was left with an easy tap in from only 2 yards out.
And only 4 minutes later, it was level. David Moli was put through on goal with an expertly timed through ball from Jack Parkinson and his emphatic finish to the far top corner left the Thurrock keeper with no chance.
The game had come to life and the lacklustre efforts of both sides had now turned into a frantic attempt from both teams to go on and win the game. But despite both sides missing good chances in the 6 minutes of stoppage time that were added on, the game ended in a 1-1 draw. On the day, a fair result in a very even game.
Welling Draw National League South Opposition Again
Welling will play Havant & Waterlooville in the 2nd round of the FA Trophy, following their win against Concord Rangers.
Welling have been drawn as the home side so the tie will be played at Park View Road on Saturday 13th January.
It will be the second meeting between the two sides this season after the two sides played out a 1-1 draw earlier this month. With the two sides currently sitting 6th and 9th in the National League South table, it is sure to be another close encounter.
Welling striker Flo Bojaj will miss up to 4 months of action after suffering a torn calf muscle in the match against East Thurrock United.
Ex Huddersfield striker, Bojaj, was chasing down the ball when he pulled up and immediately hit the deck clutching his calf in agony and the worst has now been confirmed.
Bojaj has contributed to Welling's campaign this season with 5 goals in 14 appearances and his absence may now open the door for Bradley Goldberg to step in and get some games under his belt. Goldberg has only managed 5 appearances this season, all from the bench, and is yet to score in a Welling shirt this season.
Manager Chris Ball is rumoured to be looking at new strikers and the injury to Bojaj may encourage the manager to move quicker than first planned.
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