By Mark Doig at Park View Road
RYAN Kingsford scored an added-time penalty winner as Welling United set up a tie against Dulwich Hamlet after beating Faversham 2-1 in their FA Cup first qualifying replay at Park View Road.
Although Welling are Step 3, and the visitors Step 4, there was little to choose between the two teams in the first game.
In the replay something had to give as the Wings had a 100 per cent home record with no goals conceded while Faversham came into the game unbeaten in all competitions this season.
While Faversham scored a late equaliser in the first game, the Wings’ winner in the replay came even later with extra-time, and potentially a penalty shootout, looming.
Few can say that was it undeserved, though, as Welling created the vast majority of the chances.
Ryan Blackman and Kaan Bennett both had shots saved comfortably then Demaray Anyadike set up Nahum Melvin-Lambert whose shot went the wrong side of the post.
As half-time approached, the Wings went ahead. Nathan Bertram-Cooper vacated his central defensive position to get on the end of a deep cross and nod it down to Anyadike. The wide man cut in from the right and fired low inside the far post.
Early in the second period, Mackenzie Foley made a comfortable save from Kane Haysman, however, Welling continued to press and it came as a shock when Faversham became the first visitors to score at the Anthony Martin Community Stadium this season. Jack Evans swung a corner into a crowded six-yard box and Tommy Fagg claimed the final touch.
Ryan Maxwell made an immediate change, bringing on Troy Howard and switching Anyadike to the left. That almost paid immediate dividends when the latter netted again, but the Welling supporters’ joy was short lived when they spotted an offside flag.
Howard then shot over before his inch-perfect cross picked out Melvin-Lambert. Sadly for him, he didn’t connect cleanly with his close-range header and it bounced wide of the near post.
Another Maxwell substitution worked to perfection. There were three minutes remaining when he replaced holding midfielder Jamie Reynolds with striker Kingsford and changed his team’s shape. As the match moved into stoppage-time, Foley was given time to steady himself and hit a long pass forward. Kingsford beat Harry Hudson and burst into the penalty area. The centre-half pulled him back and the referee had no option other than to point to the spot and hold his red card aloft. Kingsford waited for Hudson to take the slow walk down the tunnel before tucking away the penalty with the minimum of fuss.
As a reward for their well-deserved victory, Welling will visit the Hamlet at Champion Hill in the second qualifying round.
Welling United: Foley; Otseh-Taiwo, Ramsay, Bertram-Cooper, Arthur; Blackman (Miller-Rodney 80), Reynolds (Kingsford 87); Anyadike, Bennett, Shomotun (Howard 65); Melvin-Lambert.
Substitutes not used: Azeez, Smith.
