Welling United 3-1 Bromley - We didn't play particularly great tonight, admits Jamie Day

The Wings won their fourth game on the bounce after Bromley defender Moses Swaibu was red-carded within eleven minutes for a handball on the line and Joe Healy stepped up to score his tenth-goal of the season from the penalty spot.

Striker Ross Lafayette also scored his tenth-goal in his first season playing Blue Square Bet (Conference) South football when he slotted home with only the keeper to beat to double Welling’s advantage, before Bromley skipper Ali Fuseini scored a fluke goal nine minutes later, before the Wings won a scrappy game when substitute Theo Fairweather-Johnson slotted home inside at the death.

Welling United’s second victory over their Kent rivals this season maintains the pressure on full-time leaders Salisbury City, but Dover Athletic remain in third-place and go level on points (34) with the Wings following their 3-0 win at bottom-side Truro City tonight.

“We didn’t play particularly great tonight,” admitted Day, who rested himself on a cold night.

“Credit to Bromley, they had a right good go, but it’s one of those results that you have to grind out.  I felt we done that. It’s nice to get another three points on the board, which was the main aim at the start of it. I’m pleased that we’ve kept the run going.”

This defeat ended Bromley’s four-match unbeaten run and Mark Goldberg’s side slid down one place to eighteenth, two points above the relegation zone after 16 games.  However, had they won then Bromley would have climbed into eleventh-place in the table.

Assistant manager Neil Smith said: “With ten men, I think we’ve been magnificent tonight, I really do.  I know the result doesn’t reflect that but I thought we were absolutely superb to a man.

“I don’t think anyone gave us a chance and I think the supporters’ who were here saw the effort that those boys put in.”

Welling United called visiting keeper Joe Welch into early action when Healy swung in a left-footed free-kick from 35-yards beside the touch-line, but the keeper did well to tip the dipping shot over at the last minute.

Impressive Bromley striker, Joe Pigott, hooked a shot towards goal from 25-yards, which Welling United keeper Sam Mott plucked out of the air comfortably.

But Bromley faced an uphill struggle when key-central defender Swaibu was shown a straight red card inside eleven minutes.

Welling linked up well down the right with Loui Fazakerley, Lafayette and Kiernan Hughes-Mason, who freed former Bromley player Fazakerley, who cut inside to reach the by-line before cutting the ball back for the unmarked Healy, who pulled the trigger with a left-footed drive, which beat Welch but Swaibu illegally used his hand to prevent a certain goal.

There was, however, a 160 second delay, but Healy held his composure and stroked his left-footed penalty straight down the middle past the diving Welch to give Welling United a thirteenth-minute lead.

Smith said: “Very disappointed to lose a player after what ten minutes, twelve minutes, something like that. It was something he couldn’t really change. He’s committed to falling down and the guy’s hit it from two yards and it’s a sending off!

“It just changes our game plan that we had.  We had a game plan and it goes out of the window. You’re playing with ten-men, a goal down after thirteen minutes.  We thought we’d change it but we thought we’d hold tight, get in at half-time. We’re 1-0 down, which we were and we’d give it a go in the latter stages of the second half and then we give another sloppy goal away, which I think could have been preventable.”

Day added: “I thought it was a good little bit of play, one of a few times when we move the ball quickly and got into a good area.

“I didn’t see it clearly but I think he’s handled it so if you’re going to stop it going in the goal it’s a red-card.

“I’m just pleased that Joe’s scored.  It just gets us one up to get a stranglehold on the game, which we probably didn’t do as well as we wanted to but it was nice to go in front.”

But Day admitted his side struggled to break down Bromley’s ten-men.

“Sometimes it can be difficult because they’ve got nothing to lose.  They’re one down and down to ten- men and they’re going to have a good go and they did. They had a right good go right up until the end.  They never gave up and it makes it difficult.

“You get a little bit more time on the ball and if you don’t use it correctly you end up giving the ball away and going backwards and we done that at times and then you put yourselves under pressure.

“It can be difficult and it was but like we said it’s another good win that we’ve notched up and we’ve got to keep it going.”

Welling United, who started with a high tempo, went close again when central midfielder Scott Kinch flashed a 25-yard shot wide of the far post.

Bromley linked up well down the left through Marlon Patterson and Aaron Rhule, before left-back Patterson whipped in a cross, which saw Welling defender Anthony Acheampong slice his clearance back towards goal and Mott prevented an embarrassing situation.

But Bromley squandered their best chance of the first half in the 35^th minute when former Staines Town striker Louie Theophanous should have opened his account for the Hayes Lane outfit.

Fuseini sprayed the ball out wide to Sanchez Ming, who picked the ball up just yards inside the Welling half and the attacking right-back sped forward and sprinted past Barney Williams to reach the by-line before cutting the ball back but Theohanous struck a low first time volley with his right-foot which screamed wide of the near post.

Smith was full of praise for former Welling United winger Ming, who is playing at right-back for Bromley this season.

He said: “I thought Sanchez was absolutely superb tonight. He played against two men because we were down to ten and he ran the whole of that right back to a degree that they took their left-back off to replace him and put someone else over to stop him getting forward. That’s how good he was for us.

“We created chances with ten men in the first half so we always believed we’d have another chance.”

Welling United were thwarted by Welch when following a headed clearance out by Bromley substitute defender Rob Gillman, Lafayette stung Welch’s body with a right-footed drive from 30-yards.

The start to the second half was a tight affair, but Kinch almost added to his two recent goals when he cracked a right-footed drive from 35-yards, which was well held by the diving Bromley keeper inside the opening thirteen minutes of the second half.

Fuseini then clipped a free-kick into the Welling box in the 63^rd minute, which was met by a Welling defender’s head, but Danny Waldren sent his overhead kick over the crossbar from eight-yards.

Welling United appeared to have won the game in the 67^th minute when a fine through ball from substitute left-back Joe Obersteller was latched on to by Lafayette and the striker held his nerve to slot the ball underneath Welch.

Day revealed afterwards that left-back Williams was forced off through a thigh strain.

“Poor Barney. He’s done well. He’s thigh sort of seized up at half-time,” revealed the manager.  “I don’t know if it’s a knock or a pull, we’re not sure yet.  Luckily we put Joe Obersteller on the bench tonight. We was going to go with another forward thankfully we didn’t!  It was just a straight swap round and I thought Joe done well when he came on. He played a part in one of the goals as well so we’re getting tested at the minute but up until now the boys that have come in have done well and we’ve got to keep that going.”

Day added: “From the side you still felt Bromley could get one and nick a goal.  Like I said before one goal is never enough. It’s nice to get the second one and hopefully try to kill the game off, which we didn’t until near the end.  It was important we got the next goal.

“Ross has been disappointed with a couple of chances he’s missed off late but he’s a goalscorer.  Give him a chance normally and he puts it away and that’s what he done tonight.”

Smith said: “One on one again!  I thought it was offside. The referee hasn’t given it.  He’s gone through and we’ve not played offsides so I don’t know why we’re playing for offsides and the guy put it away well and I still believe that we had chances.”

Bromley were given a life-line when Fuseini scored his first goal of the season with fourteen minutes remaining.

Finn cut the ball back to Fuseini, who whipped in a first time cross with his right-foot from 35-yards, but Welling keeper Mott inexplicably allowed the curling ball to sail high over his head and drop into the top far corner.

“Yes, he crossed it,” admitted Smith.  “It gets us in to the game, but I think before that one we had a free kick that went on towards the near post and we’ve missed it.  It was really close on the near post and then we get the goal. 

“Two-one, as I say, I think we had the ascendency. I think they started panicking a little bit, even with ten-men, away from home, they were panicking!”

Day admitted Mott was at fault for Bromley’s lifeline, by saying, “Motty knows he can do better with that.   I think at times it’s a little bit difficult. He doesn’t have a lot to do and then he gets called upon. The last couple of weeks he’s made some great saves so I do think as well down that end (Danson Park) it does dip at the back of the goal, which has caused numerous goalkeepers the same sort of problem.

“We’ve got away with it and managed to get another one towards the end of the game to seal the game off.”

That fortuitous goal lifted Bromley’s spirits, but Mott made amends when he dived low to his right to prevent Pigott scoring with a right-footed shot on the turn from inside the Welling penalty area.

Day added: “That’s why we’ve brought Motty in!  We know he’s a decent goalkeeper. Keepers are going to make mistakes and we accept that so credit to him. He’s bounced back tonight and he’s not let it affect him and he made a couple of good saves and a good team performance.”

Striker Pigott worked tirelessly for Bromley up front and Smith said: “I thought Joe Pigott led the line. For a young kid he plays with a maturity.

“I could go through the whole team. I thought Ali (Fuseini) and Danny Waldren were absolutely superb in the middle of midfield. I thought Finny in the first half was back to his old self. The back four with Rob Gillman coming in off the bench played extremely well. Liam Harwood.  For me the outstanding player tonight was Sanchez Ming.

“I’ve known Sanchez for some time and I think he could be a very, very, very good full-back. He’s still got a hell of a lot of learning to do. He’s a young man. He’s probably got a reputation that goes before him which is very unfair to him but I think he could be an extremely strong asset to this club.”

Welling United were thwarted by a fine block from Welch’s legs to deny Lafayette, who was put through on goal by a fine pass from substitute Jon Main.

But Welling United scored a flattering third 53 seconds into injury time after Fazakerley cut in from the right before putting Fairweather-Johnson through on goal and the former Thamesmead Town striker used his right foot to slot the ball home for his second goal of the season.

Day was full of praise for a striker who was terrorising defences in Ryman League Division One North last season and deserves his chance at a higher level.

“I’ve been pleased with Theo this season,” said Day.  “He’s jumped up two leagues and he’s settled in really well with the boys and he’s performances have got better and better as the season’s gone on.

“He was in the side a couple of weeks back and had a little knock and he’s back to fitness and he’s come on and looked lively and got a goal and one that he’s deserved so I’m pleased with him.”

Day was pleased that his substitutes played a part in tonight’s Kent derby day victory.

“Kinch got a little bit tired in the second half. We’ve got the likes of Theo, Mainey and Clarkey who we can chop and change it in those areas so if people are getting tired we just swap it around.”

Speaking about Jon Main, who had a nine minute cameo role tonight, Day said: “Mainy’s hold up play was good, put others into play and looked lively. I thought he played a part in Theo’s goal as well so the people who have been coming on have made an impact and that’s what we want and when they get their chance to start they have to take that as well but so far it’s looking good and people are playing their part at the right times.”

Smith added: “Again, it’s a one-on-one.  We had possession, we gave the ball away needlessly but I think even after that Danny Waldren had a chance from a free-kick that just went wide.  We were still creating chances and then we had nothing to lose. We thought we’d go for it and it was our own undoing because our defender, instead of putting it in behind passed it to someone who is being marked, they steal the ball and it’s another one-on-one.”

Bromley created one final chance when Fuseini whipped in a free-kick and Waldren’s diving header was caught by Mott.

But Day reflected on a crucial three points which has Salisbury City looking over their shoulder as teams approach a busy period.

He said: “You look at these games and you have to grind out results and sometimes in the past these are the ones that we have not done that a well as we have done.  These are the ones you have to pick up the three points. It might be an ugly win, it might not be the best game to watch but as long as we’re at the right end of the result we’ll keep taking it!

“It was a scrappy game. There wasn’t a load of chances but we took our chances at the right time and killed the game off.”

“I’m just looking to pick up points.  We’re in a nice position but at the same time people behind us are winning as well so we’re not getting away from anyone. 

“We’re happy where we are at the minute. It’s a long way of the season to go. We just got to keep working hard and as a group and hopefully stay around where we are at the minute.”

Smith admitted being two places above the relegation zone doesn’t make happy reading for everybody at the club and their supporters.

He said: “It’s not good. We’re coming away to the so-called future champions. No one comes here and turns this team over likely.

“We’ve gone with ten men for 80 minutes, one-down and I think we’ve gave them a bloody good game and I think we deserved more than that!  I know that it doesn’t mean much when the players and management say that but I honestly believe we deserved more than the result that came against us.

“Now what we have to do is pick ourselves up. We’ve got to play with that determination, that grit, that belief on Saturday (at home to Farnborough) and the Saturday’s coming.”

Welling United:  Sam Mott, Loui Fazakerley, Barney Williams (Joe Obersteller 46), Joe Healy, Ben Martin, Anthony Acheampong, Jake Gallagher, Scott Kinch (Theo Fairweather-Johnson 69), Kurtis Guthrie (Jon Main 81), Ross Lafayette, Kiernan Hughes-Mason.
Subs: Jamie Turner, Lee Clarke

Goals: Joe Healy 13 (pen), Ross Lafayette 67, Theo Fairweather-Johnson 90

Bromley: Joe Welch, Sanchez Ming, Marlon Patterson, Ali Fuseini, Moses Swaibu, Liam Harwood, Tony Finn (Michael Malcolm 82), Danny Waldren, Louie Theophanous (Pierre Joseph-Dubois 59), Joe Pigott, Aaron Rhule (Rob Gillman 26).

Goal: Ali Fuseini 76

Booked:  Marlon Patterson 29

Sent Off:  Moses Swaibu 11

Attendance: 551
Referee: Mr Carl Fitch (Ipswich, Suffolk)
Assistants: Mr Thomas Brooks (Dagenham, Essex) & Mr Sam Lewis (Flitwick, Bedfordshire)