Welling United 1-0 Charlton Athletic Turner: Let's aim for the play-off's - EXCLUSIVE

WELLING UNITED 1-0 CHARLTON ATHLETIC
Pre-Season Friendly
Wednesday 2^nd August 2006
Stephen McCartney reports from Park View Road

A string of fine saves from Jamie Turner ensured Welling United caused a shock by beating their Premiership neighbours Charlton Athletic at a packed Park View Road tonight.

The highly-rated, 26-year-old goalkeeper, who joined the Wings from Tonbridge Angels last summer, kept out a Charlton Athletic side containing Jason Euell, Lloyd Sam, Marcus Bent and Jonathan Fortune.

But fortune favoured the brave tonight as the Nationwide Conference South hosts stunned the Charlton faithful just 14 seconds into the second half.

A long clearance up field from Welling United’s right-back Mark Goodfellow was sliced over goalkeeper Darren Randolph and into his own net by former Leeds United defender Simon Walton, some 20-yards from his own goal and with no apparent danger.

But resilient Welling had Turner, a carpet fitter by trade who lives in Dartford, to thank in a game where midfielder Jamie Day and former Folkestone Invicta defender John Guest impressed.

CLEAN SHEET:  Welling United
goalkeeper Jamie Turner made
sure  Premiership neighbours
Charlton Athletic found no
way through.

Pic: www.wellingunited.com

Turner made his first save of the night after just two minutes, blocking Christian Bolanos’ right-footed effort from just outside the box.

Another chance came slick Charlton’s way when Jamie Walker’s 25-yard shot rolled well wide of the left upright.

Weling, however, created two chances of their own during the first half.

Danny Kedwell, playing his second game for the Wings following his Brentford trial, nodded wide from an acute angle after Day’s free kick from the right caused problems.

And the crossbar saved Charlton’s blushes after 27 minutes.

Day’s floated free kick, from a deeper position, was met by a looping header from Steve Perkins, which bounced off the crossbar but former Margate striker Che Stadhart couldn’t find a way past Darren Randolph.

Sandwiched between these two chances came another fine save from Turner.

The ball bounced into his face from Lloyd Sam’s right-footed drive from 25-yards, but Chris Moore was on hand to clear the danger from inside the six-yard box.

Charlton Athletic striker Marcus Bent, meanwhile, didn’t have his shooting boots on, blazing high over the bar from inside the D, and then driving wide. He was replaced at the break.

And Welling, who only lost two league games on home soil last season, survived a scare late in the half.

Bolanos cut in from the left and caused panic in the home defence and although the Wings didn’t clear the ball, they were once again thankful as Turner dived to keep out Sam’s goal bound effort.

But Welling United fans were celebrating early in the second half thanks to Walton’s howler.

Walton, meanwhile, almost made amends after 51 minutes when his fierce right-footed free kick right on the edge of the penalty area was inches over.

Turner made his last save of the night with 78 minutes on the clock, diving to his left to beat out a deflected shot from Xavier Farinos.

Welling’s next chance fell to Luke Holmes but his near post shot, after some good build up play, was turned around the near post by Randolph.

Turner made way for experienced former Dover Athletic goalkeeper Paul Hyde late in the game, but poor finishing from the Premiership side enabled Welling to go into their Nationwide Conference South opener against Weston-super-Mare on 12^th August with extra confidence.

And Turner said in an EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with www.kentishfootball.co.uk that he was pleased with his team-mates’ work ethic.

“We expected it to be a hard game,” he said. “We know their full-time Premiership players and we knew their fitness would be higher than ours.

“We got in there and made it hard as possible, which we done, getting into people’s faces so they didn’t get time to play because if they did, they’d score loads of goals.”

And the former Gravesend & Northfleet goalkeeper insists his team-mates are good enough to reach the play-off’s this season.

“It looked bare-bones when we came back on 3^rd July, but Adrian Pennock has got the players he needs and we look a strong outfit now.

“My aim is to progress and get into the play-offs. Hopefully we can get a good run in the FA Cup again and get a top name, which is good for the club and fans.”

One player looking to earn himself a deal at the club is the unfortunate right-back Adam Boots.

The 19-year-old has moved to the Parkwood area of Gillingham and played youth and reserve team football at Nationwide Conference club Hereford United last season.

And having spoken to former Gillingham coach Wayne Jones and Jamie Reid from BBC Radio Kent, Boots hopes he’ll sign for the Wings.

The player is currently suffering from a jaw injury, sustained in the club’s opening pre-season outing.

He said: “I’ve spoken to Jamie Reid, just helped him out and he sorted me out with Adie, but nothing’s been said yet as I haven’t really played a game.”