Welling United 3-1 Folkestone Invicta

For the third time in six seasons, Folkestone Invicta’s FA Cup campaign ended in a replay defeat at Welling United as Neil Cugley’s side went down in Tuesday night’s Second Qualifying Round tie at Park View Road despite taking the lead right on half time through Steve Norman, writes Richard Murrill.

The lead was not to last for long though as the Wings were level after 49 minutes when Danny Kedwell headed in John Guest’s cross from the right.

But the tie was effectively settled in controversial circumstances in the 75th minute when referee Robert Whitton from Essex pointed to the penalty spot after the ball had struck an Invicta defender on the hand following another ball in from right back Guest.

Seconds earlier the officials had given nothing after Invicta centre half Adam Flanagan appeared to have been impeded inside the box at the other end soon after a baffling free kick decision against Invicta centre forward Ellis Remy when Welling goalkeeper Jamie Turner came out of his penalty area to clear.

But Welling’s top goalscorer Kedwell beat Tony Kessell from the penalty spot to put the home side 2-1 up.

And striking partner Che Stadhart made it 3-1 during stoppage time when he swept the ball into the net from substitute Ronayne Benjamin’s ball in from the left hand side.

Welling now go to travel to meet AFC Hornchurch in the Third Qualifying Round on Saturday October 14th.

Invicta kept faith with the same starting eleven which had drawn 1-1 in the initial tie at Folkestone on Saturday, while Welling welcomed back former Margate and Gravesend striker Stadhart after injury and kept left back Leon Soloman in ahead of midfielder Matt Bodkin.

It was Stadhart who had an early chance while travelling Inivcta fans were still held up in traffic on the A2 following a horrific accident close to Dartford Heath.

When supporters arrived they found the visitors again competing well against the Conference South opponents.

Invicta goalkeeper Kessell got down to save when a low shot from Kedwell skidded across the surface after 20 minutes, while at the other end a Micheal Everitt shot was pushed away by Welling goalkeeper Turner three minutes later.

A Jamie Day free kick from the left hand side led to a scramble in the Invicta goalmouth after 26 minutes and tempers flared when Kedwell clashed with Flanagan on the opposite flank.

A Kedwell cross from the right just eluded Stadhart in the middle after 39 minutes, while Invicta player-coach Mark Saunders cleared off the line when Welling captain Chris Moore met a corner from the right minutes later.

But Invicta opened the scoring after 45 minutes when Norman hit a sweet free kick into the net from right on the edge of the penalty area following a foul on striker Paul Jones. It was Norman’s fourth goal so far this season, making the left back Invicta’s leading marksman.

Stadhart shot wastefully over the crossbar after 48 minutes when Day’s ball into the left hand side of the penalty area evaded Kessell and reached Kedwell.

But Kedwell's glancing header was soon to bring the home side level.

For Invicta, Remy volleyed over when young defender Liam Friend played the ball in from the left after 53 minutes and former Invicta defender Guest was there to clear three minutes later when a dangerous James Everitt ball in from the right seemed to be destined for Remy at the far post following good work from Micheal Everitt and Kevin Watson.

Norman’s dangerous ball in from the right from the subsequent corner then just evaded everybody in the middle.

Kessell was able to save Martin Carthy’s close range header as the game reached its closing stages after 71 minutes.

But the subsequent penalty decision was to turn the tie as Invicta conceded a spot kick for the seventh time in 13 matches so far this season.

Invicta responded by bringing on flair players Ben Sly and Walid Matata for Micheal Everitt and Saunders.

But there was to be no way back and Stadhart headed just over following a move involving Soloman and Ellis Green after 81 minutes.

Stadhart’s goal was to rub salt into Invicta’s wounds and there was still time for a Kedwell shot to be blocked by Friend following a ball in from the right.

There was a minute’s silence before the game for former Welling United player John Glover, whose funeral had taken place earlier in the day.

WELLING UNITED: Turner, Guest, Soloman, Boateng, Moore, Lewis, Carthy (Benjamin 84), Kedwell, Stadhart, Green (Bodkin 87), Day. Subs: Rowland, Edusei, Hyde.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Kessell, Watson, Norman, Flanagan, Friend, Okikiolu, M. Everitt (Sly 79), J. Everitt, Remy, Saunders (Matata 79), Jones (Neilson 84). Subs: Corbett, Stonebridge.

Attendance: 548.