Welling United 1-3 Worcester City - More Worcester woe for Wings

WELLING UNITED 1-3 WORCESTER CITY
Blue Square South
Saturday 20^th September 2008
Paul Parkinson reports from Park View Road

WORCESTER CITY’S winning streak at Park View Road in league encounters was extended to six out of six, as an under-par Welling United were torn apart in the second half of today’s 3-1 defeat in the Blue Square South.

A brace of goals from striker Craig Wilding after the break, both times capitalising on poor defending from the Wings, sealed a game that, at the half, the 534 present would have believed could only be won by the home side.

Indeed, at half-time, so dominant were Welling, that visiting goalkeeper Danny McDonnell was by far the busier of the two custodians, superbly denying Craig Braham-Barrett twice, before being sent the wrong way by Rob Quinn‘s equalising penalty.

Until the 36th minute, when Marco Adaggio scrambled home the first goal for the visitors via Jamie Turner and the post, Turner‘s only work was to clear two horrendous back-passes from his own defenders.

The first, on four minutes, was fired back by Ryan Johnson, that Turner had to control as he was back-pedalling towards his goal; the second, a 35-yard effort from Graeme Andrews was shepherded behind for the corner that ultimately led to the opening goal.

A deep corner from Michael McGrath, just signed on loan from Kidderminster Harriers, was headed goalbound by Ollie Barnes.

But despite 2 or 3 attempts to clear the ball, it eventually fell at the feet of Adaggio whose miss-hit shot rebounded from Turner and the left hand post before crossing the line.

From the kick-off, Welling broke immediately, and Lee Blackburn seized onto a through-ball, only to have his legs taken away by Barnes’ sliding challenge. Many in the ground thought the defender got a part of the ball, but Mr Jaye pointed immediately to the spot, from where Quinn tucked away the penalty.

This equaliser was what Welling deserved, as on the balance of play, they could have considered themselves unlucky not to be well clear.

Before the break, Worcester gave notice of the problems that Welling would face in the 2nd half, as the defence was motionless as Graham Ward, to this point tormented by Braham-Barrett, broke forward for the first time.

The full-back’s square ball was turned goalward by Matt Dinsmore, only for Turner, falling the wrong way, to stick out a leg to ensure the teams went to the break level.

Welling boss, Andy Ford, would have been disappointed with his side‘s display in the second half, as the visitors cruelly exploited a lack of cohesion in the Welling back-line.

On 56 minutes, Rob Davies played an inch-perfect ball over the Wings’ defence for Wilding, who calmly slotted the ball through Turner‘s legs, as the keeper advanced.

Turner kept Welling in the game in the midst of a flurry of substitutions, as Davies curled a right-footed free-kick goalbound, only for the keeper to stretch and turn the ball over the bar.

Despite plenty of huffing and puffing in the Welling midfield, the home side couldn‘t create any chances barring long range wayward shots, and the visitors sealed the game on 84 minutes in a controversial manner.

As the home defence appealed for an offside decision against the retreating substitute Wood, Wilding took the opportunity to run along the back line onto the through ball. The forward then turned a desperate challenge from Matthew McEntegart before slotting the ball coolly past Turner.

With the game virtually over, Welling suddenly threatened the Worcester goal when sub Ryan Martin‘s curling 30-yard free-kick was turned aside by McDonnell.

However, from the resulting corner, McEntegart broke free from his marker, only to power his header off the top of the bar from 10 yards.

Worcester City were denied a fourth goal in stoppage time, when Turner, scrambling back across his goal after another defensive mistake, did well to turn Brown‘s shot away.

Welling United: Jamie Turner, Ryan Johnson, Sonny Cobbs, Rob Quinn (Dorian Smith 65), Matthew McEntegart, Graeme Andrews, Lee Blackburn (Sol Pinnock 73), Chris Nurse, Joe Healy (Ryan Martin 59), Orlando Smith, Craig Braham-Barrett.
Subs: Scott Andrews, Frankie Chappell

Goal: Rob Quinn 37 (pen)

Booked: Dorian Smith 90

Worcester City: Danny McDonnell, Graham Ward, Shabir Khan, Jon Richardson, Ollie Barnes, Dave Bampton (Jordan Fitzpatrick 62), Rob Davies, Matt Dinsmore (Troy Wood 76), Craig Wilding, Marco Adaggio (Jemiah Richards 84), Michael McGrath.
Subs: Craig Brown, Mike Wright

Goals: Marco Adaggio 36, Craig Wilding 56, 84

Booked: Jon Richardson 19, Graham Ward 78

Attendance: 534
Referee: Mr Richard Jaye (Boreham Wood, Hertfordshire)
Assistants: Mr Ronald Albert (Catford, London SE6) & Mr Ben Wright (London SE17)