Welling United 0 Bromley 7 (EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS)

With his side travelling to full-time Nationwide Conference outfit Woking in the third round of the FA Trophy on Saturday, Pennock, who came off the bench at the interval with his side 4-0 down, admitted playing a young side was his only option.

“What have we learnt tonight? I think the young boys have learnt there’s a big step between youth football and men’s football but it’s a good run-out for them and a good learning process for them,” he said.

“’I’m not worried about the result at all” he added. “More worried about the first team squad players getting 90 minutes and the young boys getting experience in this level.”

A crowd of 222 witnessed tonight’s one-sided drubbing, but Pennock did warn Wings fans of his attentions through www.kentishfootball.co.uk on Sunday.

Speaking about playing a very young side, he said: “That’s no disrespect to the Kent County Cup. It’s just we’ve got a small squad, we’ve got injuries and we’ve got a big game on Saturday.

“I’ve told people before about the team three days ago so people knew. It was a good learning process, not worried about the result at all. Its all about the boys learning from the experience.

Many Wings fans were walking out of the Park View Road exit gates long before the final whistle - all seven goals, however, were scored in the first 57 minutes, and even Bromley brought three youngsters off the substitutes bench during the second half.

Pennock said: “I spoke to one of the fans at half-time who wasn’t too happy. Hopefully they’ll understand that we have got injuries.

“To be fair we have played weakened teams in the London Cup and this cup competition this season and the boys have done well.

“We’ve just come across Bromley and they’ve done a professional job on us. I’m obviously disappointed with the goals we’ve conceded but I don’t really know if I should apologise or not because the good thing is it’s the future of the club.

“Some boys out there were only 15-16 years old and they gave a good account of themselves, its a good learning process and good for the future of Welling Football Club.”

Striker James Pinnock saw his two shots on target saved by Bromley goalkeeper Mark Davidson, himself only 19 and on work-experience from Premiership side Fulham.

Both shots, coming from Pinnock’s right-foot, from outside the penalty area, came in the 41^st and 90^th minutes but were never going to trouble the goalkeeper, who won’t have such a quiet night again.

Welling did have one other shot on a miserable night but Billy Thurston’s right-footed drive after 27 minutes was harmlessly wide of the blonde haired goalkeeper’s post.

Bromley dominated proceeding’s throughout and Allan McLeod’s right-footed low drive from 25-yards was comfortably saved by Darren Ibrahim, who spent pre-season on trial at Hayes Lane before switching to Park View Road.

But the former Gillingham youngster was beaten twice in three minutes. Sam Wood’s cross from the left was met by Adrian Stone and the former Ashford Town striker nipped in front of his marker to poke the ball home.

Bromley doubled their lead after 21 minutes when skipper Mark Willy nodded home at the far post after Barry Gardner’s corner was flicked on.

Bromley, who travel to Stag Meadow on Saturday to tackle Slough Town, were in complete control and after exchanging passes with Ellis Remy, Gary Drewett’s drive flashed wide of the foot of the left post.

The former Sutton United and Kingstonian winger, however, got on the score sheet after 35 minutes when he latched onto Remy’s pass, cut in from the right, and slotted home inside the far post past the advancing goalkeeper.

Stone got his second of the night on the stroke of half-time when he latched onto McLeod’s pass and lobbed the ball over Ibrahim from the edge of the box.

Three minutes into the second half it was five when Stone passed to Remy and the former Margate striker found the net via a deflection off Daniel Moore.

Bromley’s fans enjoyed their night on the Park View Road terraces and celebrated their sixth goal after 51 minutes when Gardner’s corner was met by a firm header from Willy, which was his third goal of the season.

Drewett wrapped up the goalscoring six minutes later when he blasted the ball into the roof of the net from the edge of the penalty area.

Influential midfielder Sam Wood, meanwhile, was twice denied by Ibrahim but with his side already in the last eight of the Westview Cup (they host Wealdstone on 21^st February) and the last four of the Kent Senior Cup, Bromley’s joint-manager Billy Smith admits they’ve got a great chance of collecting silverware this season.

He said: “At the beginning of the season when we sat down and we chatted about it we said if we get in the top half and maybe pick up a couple along the way, we’ll be quite happy about it. At the moment it could quite easily work out that way.”

Smith revealed 17-goal star striker, Nic McDonnell may have recovered from his hamstring injury in time for Saturday’s game and midfielder Danny Carroll may also return.

Another midfielder, Adam Locke is expected to be ruled out for the rest of the season as he will be having an operation on his raptured Achilles.

“We’re getting stronger,” admitted Smith. “Once we get all our senior players back we’ll be a useful team.

“It’s been one of them years where we’ve had so many injuries, that has absolutely crucified us.”

Speaking about Welling’s team tonight, Smith added: “I’ve got to be honest when I saw them warming up, they were only youngsters but when they gave us the teamsheet they had (Lee) Shearer playing, (Keith) Rowland, (James) Pinnock and there’s a couple of others that we heard off.

“It’s a good work out for us. We passed the ball well and some goals scored. It’s done us the world of good to knock a few goals in like that.

“We’ve certainly haven’t scored enough goals this year but we’re pleased with a clean sheet, seven goals - you can’t but not praise them. I thought they’ve done well.”

You can forgive the Wings manager for fielding an inexperienced side especially if they knock Woking out of the FA Trophy at the weekend.

“It’s going to be a massive game,” said Pennock. “We’re going to go there and really give it a go. Obviously we’re the underdogs and they’re a really good team.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for (Woking manager) Glen Cockerill and he’s got a really good team there.

“Obviously their full-time but we’ll give it a good go and you never know. It’s a cup game and it’s all on the day really.”

With his side training on Wednesday night, the former Gillingham star added: “We’re preparing for it properly - just like another game.

“Everyone’s looking forward to it. The fans are looking forward to it, obviously we are as well.”

Welling United: Darren Ibrahim, Joel Thompson (Adrian Pennock 45), Keith Rowland, Lee Shearer, Gary Skipsey (Joe Cortney 78), Bobby Folan, Billy Thurston, Adam Ashton, Toby Johnson (Rishi Nankani 63), James Pinnock, Daniel Moore. Subs: Ian Brooke, Sam Bradley

Bromley: Mark Davidson, Barry Gardner, Colin Luckett, Joe Vines, Mark Willy, Allan McLeod, Gary Drewett, Des Boating (Adam Greenway 59), Ellis Remy (Job Feumba 53), Adrian Stone (Michael Donovan 63), Sam Wood. Subs: James Parker, Andy Silk

Attendance: 222
Referee: Mr M Basten (Sevenoaks)
Assistants: Mr I Fissenden and Mr D Blunden


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