Welling United 4-1 Tonbridge Angels - We've got to try and win 10 Cup Finals, says Jamie Day

WELLING UNITED  4-1 TONBRIDGE ANGELS
Blue Square Bet South
Tuesday 12^th March 2013
Stephen McCartney reports from Park View Road

WELLING UNITED player-manager Jamie Day says his side must win ten Cup Finals if they are to clinch the Blue Square Bet (Conference) South title at the end of the season.


The Wings maintained their unbeaten home record in the league after their comfortable 4-1 win over a Tonbridge Angels side that are languishing precariously two points above the relegation zone in seventeenth-place.

But Welling United took charge of this Kent derby and edged three points clear of Salisbury City at the top of the table and are in the box seat as they still have two games in hand on the full-time outfit from Wiltshire.

Welling United – who won the corner count 10-1 – dominated but they had to wait until the 39^th minute to break Tonbridge Angels’ resistance when Anthony Acheampong powered home his header from a corner.

They went into half-time with a two-goal cushion when Ross Lafayette headed home his seventeenth-goal of the season.

Tonbridge Angels – who went into the game with back-to-back defeats against Dorchester Town and Boreham Wood – and have now won only once of their last six games including tonight – pulled a goal back when prolific striker Frannie Collin fired home his sixteenth-goal of the season.

But Welling United snuffed out an unlikely comeback when central midfielder Lee Clarke rolled home a third, before Acheampong volleyed home his second of the night towards the end.

Day, who played for 83 minutes before being replaced by former Tonbridge Angels midfield enforcer Scott Kinch, says he was pleased with his side’s performance.

”A good performance,” he called it.  “I thought we were on the front foot for the majority of the game. We passed it better tonight than we have done, a bit more relaxed on the ball and obviously pleased to get three points.

”We created a lot of chances. I thought we started well. It’s all about getting the first goal and we done that and kicked on so I’m pleased today because in our previous two or three games we’ve had to come from behind so it’s nice to get on the front foot and in control of the game.”

Day’s side have heaped the pressure back on Salisbury City, who may have to settle for home advantage in the play-offs.

Day said: ”It’s good to have games in hand, but you’ve got to put the points on the board. We’ve done that tonight. We’ve still got two games in hand over Salisbury.”

Tonbridge Angels boss, Tommy Warrilow, meanwhile, admits his side are involved in a relegation dog-fight with 30 points left to play for.

He said: “Of course we are. Not just us, there’s teams above us as well.  Even when we was at the top we were only six points off the bottom.

”I’ve said from day one, if you go back to my interview, we’ve always pushed the boat on about top spots etc, but we’ve not been naive enough to think we’re out of the water in this league.

”I don’t think anyone expected us to get anything from Boreham Wood, Welling or Chelmsford. The games we’ve got coming up, the Eastbourne Borough (game at home on Saturday), that’s a big game for both clubs.  That’s a big, important game, no more so than us, but we go into every game still believing that we can win.”

Reflecting on the game, Warrilow said: “I don’t think it was 4-1. We’ve just said to the boys in there, we knew they’d be very dangerous from set-plays, corners, free-kicks etc.  They’ve cashed in on two of them.”

Welling United got out of the traps quickly and right-winger Kiernan Hughes-Mason played the ball inside to Day, who played the ball to Clarke, who spread the ball out wide to Hughes-Mason and his first time low cross bounced off Jake Gallagher at the near post and Lee Worgan collected the loose ball.

Clarke played the ball inside to Gallagher, whose right-footed drive from 30-yards brought a comfortable low save from Worgan in the tenth minute.

The visiting keeper was almost left red-faced when his clearance fell to Clarke, who looked up and swept a right-footed shot towards goal from 35-yards, but highly-rated Worgan got back on his line to comfortably catch the ball.

Day admitted he is disappointed with his goalscoring tally for the season – his excellent free-kick in their FA Trophy win at Woking being his only goal.

He had a chance in the eighteenth-minute when he picked a square pass from Lafayette before unleashing a right-footed drive from 30-yards, which curled wide of the far post.

Day said: ”It’s probably the first time in a while that I’ve gone over the halfway line. I got near the 18-yard box so I’ve got to make the most of it.  It just went wide so obviously quite not good enough!

”For me I’ve probably got to be looking to get six to eight goals being a midfielder. For me the return’s not been good enough this year from a goalscoring point of view.  Maybe age is coming into it now. I don’t quite get as high up the pitch as I used to!

”It’s something that I’m asking the other boys to chip in with goals and I’ve got to look at that as well from my point of view.”

Welling United continued their dominance and created another chance when Acheampong clipped the ball from inside his own half up field and Hughes-Mason rose to flick his header across goal to debutant Jake Reid and the on-loan target-man lashed his right-footed shot over from 20-yards.

Day said: ”We tried to get Jake in the summer but he wanted to stay playing as high as he possibly could (with AFC Telford United in the Blue Square Bet Premier).

”He lives in Bristol, which is a bit of a trek to here so we couldn’t afford to do that. He became available at the start of the week and I had a quick chat with him and he was keen to come on board to try to help us push for promotion.

”He’s a big, strong lad. I thought his first touch was excellent tonight and he held the ball up really well.

”If Jake has come to the end of the season – hopefully we can do that – and we’ve got five decent strikers now, which will give us enough firepower to score some more goals and keep us at the top.”

Reid made room for himself on the edge of the Tonbridge Angels penalty box, only to sweep his right-footed shot past the far post.

Tonbridge Angels ventured forward and created a half-chance on the half-hour mark.

Collin drilled a low right-footed angled free-kick around the wall from 35-yards for Mikel Suarez to poke his shot towards goal which didn’t trouble Sam Mott.

Day clipped a ball up to Lafayette, who appeared to have used his outstretched left arm to knock the ball down to Clarke, who drove wide of the far post from 25-yards.

Tonbridge Angels’ best opening of the first half arrived in the 32^nd minute.

Jon Heath, who was making his first start of the season after battling back from a knee injury, whipped in a free-kick from inside his own half and Suarez flicked the ball on for skipper Lee Browning to clip a tame shot straight at Mott.

Warrilow was pleased with Heath, for the 75 minutes that he was on the pitch.

”Outstanding!  Absolutely outstanding for me.  I was well pleased with Jon. He just ran out of legs at the end but to come in and play and put in a performance like that, very happy.”

Warrilow also gave a debut to central defender Anthony Sinclair-Furlonge and Ashley Miller, who he deployed on the right hand side of midfield.  The pair have come in on loan from Stevenage and Gillingham respectively, although Miller has spent loan spells in Ryman League Division One South with Ramsgate and Hythe Town this season.

””He started off reasonably well,” Warrilow said of Sinclair-Furlonge.  “He just made life hard for himself at times when he just defended.  He tried to play a little bit too much and he got caught.  He’s just walked in tonight, as has Ashley Miller, so I’m not going to be too hard on them.

”I felt a little bit sorry for Ashley. I don’t think he got in the game a lot. We tried to push him into a 4-3-3 at the end but it’s very hard against sides like this because when you lose the ball you’ve got to get back into wide areas.

”He’s a young lad with loads of pace and loads of potential and ability. I speak to the boys at Gillingham and he’s really highly thought of down there.  Even though he’s got (a contract) for this year and next year, he’s got a few League clubs to go and trial at and I think there’s bags of potential there.

”The two new lads have come into a big game tonight.”

Suarez then flicked on a long kick from Worgan to present a chance for Collin, whose right-footed angled drive bounced once on it’s way behind for a goal-kick.

Welling United looked dangerous from corners and they issued the Angels’ a warning when left-back Jack Obersteller swung in an excellent corner from the right with his left-foot for Ben Martin to pop up from the back to plant his header agonisingly wide of the near post from three-yards out.

Hughes-Mason’s shanked first-time cross almost left Wogan red-faced as the ball dipped towards goal, the keeper tipping the ball over his crossbar – but Welling United opened the scoring from the resulting corner, their fifth of the game.

Obersteller whipped in another excellent corner from the right which sailed over everyone and Acheampong ghosted in at the far post to power his header into the near corner from inside the six-yard box.

”We’re a threat from set-plays, we’ve got some big boys who want to go and head the ball and Anthony’s one of them,” highlighted Day.

”Obo’s (Obersteller) deliveries have been excellent tonight and all season and if you put the ball in the right areas these boys want to go and head it and score goals.  Anthony, Ben (Martin) and Fraser (Franks) have shown that this season.”

Reflecting on both of Acheampong’s goals, Warrilow said: “First one, he’s got a great header in, but the fourth one disappointed me because he nearly headed it on the line. We’ve got too many bodies in front of Worgs.”

Obersteller almost got on the scoresheet himself when he saw a gap and curled his left-footed free-kick around the two-man wall to force Worgan to make a comfortable low save to his left to prevent the ball creeping into the bottom near corner.

But Welling United produced a quality goal to double their lead in the 43^rd minute.

Hughes-Mason’s electrifying pace took him past Heath down the right before he whipped in a world-class cross with his right-foot for Lafayette to run in to space in between the two Tonbridge centre halves to glance his header across Worgan to find the far corner.

”I’ve said to Kiernan he’s got fantastic pace and ability, just to not over complicate his game, get yourself down the line and put balls into the box and he’s done that tonight,” said Day.

”A great run from Roscoe and a top class finish, which we expect from a player of his quality, so obviously pleased with that build up and the goal.”

Day was quick to praise Hughes-Mason by saying, “He’s only young and he’s still learning the game and he’s going to make mistakes and going to be up and down.  He’s still got 10 goals this season, which is a good return and he’s made a few as well, so we’re pleased with Kiernan.  It’s my job now to get him a little bit more consistent and on a regular basis. It doesn’t happen over night. It just takes a little bit of time but we’re pleased with him.”

Warrilow added: “To be fair it was a great cross in.  He got in front of us defensive wise.  I keep saying to the boys you can’t let them get in front off you.  From their point of view it’s a great goal. He’s attacked it. It’s a great ball in.”

Tonbridge Angels created the first chance of the second half when Collin, with his back to goal on the edge of the penalty box, cut the ball back to Browning, who flashed his right-footed shot past the far post from 22-yards.

But Tonbridge Angels pulled a goal back, three minutes and 37 seconds on the clock, after linking up well on the right.

Henry Muggeridge, who left the ground on crutches after twisting his ankle deep into stoppage time, played the ball inside to Suarez, who flicked his pass through to Collin, who finished well with his right-foot, low into the bottom near corner.

Warrilow admitted he was disappointed that his side couldn’t build on their excellent start to the second half and claw themselves back into the game.

He said: “I’m disappointed with the fantastic start that we had in the second half, we didn’t get the momentum to push on because once they kept that two goal cushion, it made life difficult for us tonight.”

Day added: “We said at half-time to come out for the first 10-15 minutes, not to concede and just be professional. I felt we didn’t do well enough on a couple of throw-ins and paid the price for it and if you give someone like Frannie half a chance he’s going to put it away.

”Disappointed on that front but a good reaction to go on and get another two.”

Day added: “They’ve got a big man up front, whose decent in the air and won his fair share of headers and you’ve got Frannie whose movement is very good and it’s difficult, but I thought the back four coped well. We’re just disappointed that we didn’t keep a clean sheet.”

However, any signs of a Tonbridge Angels’ recovery didn’t last long and Worgan had to be at his best to beat away Clarke’s driven shot, high to his right, in the 53^rd minute.

Welling United went close again from a headed set-piece when Clarke rushed in to plant his header narrowly over after yet another excellent corner by Obersteller.

The Wings increased their lead in the 62^nd minute when Clarke finally beat Worgan.

They linked up well down the left with Obersteller playing the ball into Reid’s feet, who played the ball inside to Clarke, whose right-footed shot trickled past Worgan’s outstretched left leg to roll into the bottom far corner.

Day added: “I thought we relaxed a little bit better tonight and we played much better football than we have in the last four to five games so we’re pleased with that and we scored some good goals and we’re pleased to get the three points to keep us at the top of the table.”

A bitterly disappointed Warrilow added: ”We’ve just gone asleep at the back. The lad’s got in front, he hasn’t even got hold of it either and it’s crawled it’s way into the net. Even then I still think we was in it.”

Suarez won Tonbridge Angels’ a free-kick three minutes later and Collin cracked his right-footed free-kick over the wall from 28-yards, which was caught by Mott.

Obersteller swung in another corner towards the far post, which was planted agonisingly wide of the near post by Reid, who held his head in his hands when a debut goal went begging from inside the six-yard box.

But Warrilow pointed to Collin’s gilt-edged miss with twenty minutes remaining to be the key moment.

Suarez flicked the ball on for Collin to latch on to and he only had Mott to beat.  Warrilow believed his striker should have attempted a lob, but Collin powered his right-footed shot from sixteen-yards and Mott dived to his right to push the ball away.

”I thought Frannie, when he was through, he’s gone for power when he could’ve quite easily lobbed the keeper to make it 3-2,” said Warrilow.  “I thought that was the easy option and that closes the gap – but we haven’t!

”It’s a great move and he’s in and I don’t understand he’s gone for the power because the ball’s bouncing and it’s sat up nicely. Motty’s rushing off his line and the lob was on but Frans gone for power and he’s hit it straight at him but I think that puts us back to 3-2. They’re all fine margins but at this level they hurt you!”

Day added: “A player of his quality is going to create chances and if the back four can’t deal with it then you hope the goalkeeper can.”
 
Welling United created a couple more chances with Hughes-Mason being denied by Worgan before Lafayette struck a right-footed half-volley from 25-yards narrowly over.

Welling United scored scored their fourth goal in the final nine minutes.

This time it was Day who swung in a corner from the left and Acheampong stuck out his leg to stab a low volley beyond Worgan from inside a crowded six-yard box.

”We’re pleased to get the three points and keep us at the top of the table,” added Day.

Obersteller was denied a deserved goal inside injury time when Worgan caught his 35-yard angled free-kick above his head.

Day is pleased with his side’s unbeaten home league record of 14 wins and 4 draws.

He said: “Kent derbies are never easy games and I felt that if we started right and we performed anywhere we could do you’d like to hopefully think you could get three points.  Sometimes football never works like that!

”Great home form. It’s got to continue. We’ve got seven away games in the last ten games so we need to make sure the home form’s good and then we’ve got to pick up some points away from home so really pleased with the home form. I think it’s been exceptional this year and hopefully we can get that all the way through the season if we can.”

When asked how his side will go on to claim the Blue Square Bet (Conference) South title at the end of the season, Day said: “I’ve said to the boys’ we’ve got 10 Cup Finals now. We’ve got to try and win ten games. That’s how we’ve got to look at it. We’ve got some tough games coming up. We’ve got seven away games so it’s not going to be easy, but the group of boys that we’ve got and the team spirit and the work ethic and the willingness to win games will hopefully get us through.”

Warrilow added: “At the end of the day, we’ve come away with nothing! I’m not saying we deserved to win the game by any means. I just feel at the end I don’t think it warranted a 4-1.  It’s a bitter pill to swallow!

”We went in there as a side and we lost as a side.  I just felt it’s the fine margins of taking chances.”

Welling United:  Sam Mott, Fraser Franks, Jack Obersteller, Jamie Day (Scott Kinch 83), Ben Martin, Anthony Acheampong, Jake Gallagher, Lee Clarke, Jake Reid, Ross Lafayette (Kurtis Guthrie 76), Kiernan Hughes-Mason (Theo Fairweather-Johnson 80).
Subs: Giannoulis Fakinos, Jon Main

Goals:  Anthony Acheampong 39, 81, Ross Lafayette 43, Lee Clarke 62

Booked:  Lee Clarke 56

Tonbridge Angels: Lee Worgan, Henry Muggeridge (Danny Walder 90), Jon Heath (Tom Davis 75), Lee Browning, Anthony Sinclair-Furlonge, Sonny Miles, Ashley Miller, David Ijaha, Mikel Suarez, Frannie Collin, Nathan Green.
Subs:  Mark Lovell, Scott Chalmers-Stevens, Ben Davisson

Goal: Frannie Collin 49

Attendance: 447
Referee: Mr Alan Young (Blackpool, Lancashire)
Assistants: Mr Nigel Phillips (Ely, Cambridgeshire) & Mr Paul Howard (Finsbury Park, London N4)