Welling United 1-4 Grays Athletic - Pennock: I'm proud of my lads

WELLING UNITED 1-4 GRAYS ATHLETIC
FA Carlsberg Trophy Quarter-Final
Sunday 25^th February 2007
Stephen McCartney reports from Park View Road

Grays Athletic, FA Trophy winners for the past two seasons, booked their place in this season’s semi-finals today as three goals during the last eighteen minutes broke brave Welling United’s hearts - in front of the Wings largest crowd of the season at home.

Just six places separated the two sides but the Essex visitors, second from bottom in the Nationwide Conference table, showed their class during the second half to join Kidderminster Harriers, Northwich Victoria and Stevenage Borough in tomorrow’s draw.

Kent’s interest in the competition ended this weekend as Northwich Victoria put paid to Gravesend & Northfleet’s hopes yesterday with a 3-0 win.

But Welling United got off to a dream start at Park View Road today as they scored from their first corner of the game inside the opening five minutes.

Jamie Day’s outswinging corner was met by a header from Danny Kedwell some 12-yards from goal at the far post and Chris Moore was on hand to nod the ball into the top left hand corner from just two yards out.

The Nationwide Conference South hosts fully deserved their lead as they played the first half at a very high tempo and were in the faces of their full-time opponents.

And Welling United went close again from their third corner of the game after twenty minutes.

Trying to emulate his partner at the heart of the Wings’ defence by scoring, Steve Perkins could not force Day’s near post corner inside the near post.

And the Kent side had penalty appeals turned down when Steve Harper was pushed in the back by Gavin Cowan.

Experienced goalkeeper Paul Hyde made a smart save to thwart John Martin from stabbing home from six-yards before Grays levelled with ten first half minutes remaining.

Lightening quick striker Gavin Grant, whose played for Tooting & Mitcham United, Gillingham and Millwall, latched onto a through ball from Martin.

But the 24-year-old drilled a moving right-footed shot from 30-yards and Hyde was at fault for allowing the shot to go over his outstretched arm to find the bottom far corner.

Grays’ goalkeeper Ashley Bayes made a crucial block as the Kent side tried to regain the lead within four minutes.

Kedwell latched onto Ellis Green’s ball out of defence and with the home fans willing him on the 23-goal striker dragged his shot across the face of the penalty area.

But Day picked up the loose ball on the left hand side of the penalty area but was denied by a fine block from the former Hornchurch goalkeeper.

Welling United fully deserved to go in at the break on level terms but the holders were able to step up another gear after the hosts tired in the energy zapping wet conditions.

Fans favourite Denis Oli won the Essex side a free-kick but skipper Stuart Thurgood blasted his right-footed free-kick from 30-yards over.

Hyde made amends for Grays’ equaliser when he flung himself across his goal to turn Martin’s right-footed drive from 30-yards around his post.

Kedwell got in behind the visitors defence after ten second half minutes but his low shot was comfortably saved by Bayes at the near post.

Wings midfielder Martin Carthy was replaced by former Margate striker Che Stadhart in the 62^nd minute to the chorus of “there’s only one Martin Carthy,” coming from the large vocal Grays Athletic contingent.

A cross from right-back Ben Lewis presented Kedwell with another chance but his looping header was never going to trouble Bayes.

But Grays turned the screw and never looked back when they took the lead through Glenn Poole with eighteen minutes left on the clock.

Grant’s cross from the right was met by Poole’s towering header but veteran goalkeeper Hyde couldn’t prevent the ball finding the back of the net despite the ball going in via both posts.

The second goal was tough on the Wings but losing by three clear goals was not what Adrian Pennock’s brave hearts deserved.

The third goal arrived just four minutes later when Welling were guilty of ball watching as the ball was clipped out of defence and many thought the ball had gone out of play in the air.

But Oli needed no invitation to take the ball forward and after cutting inside he drove a cross across the face of goal, just needing a touch from his on-rushing team-mate to find the net.

Poole, meanwhile, collected the ball and his cross from the left was met by a glancing header from Martin, which found the far corner to send the Essex boys’ wild.

Grays’ fourth goal, however, with four minutes remaining, was flattering.

Grant’s square pass from the right was met by a thumping 16-yard drive from Thurgood that gave Hyde no chance as the ball flew into the right-hand corner.

Grays’ fifth manager of the season, Justin Edinburgh, told www.kentishfootball.co.uk that he was delighted with their progress into the last four.

“Obviously delighted that we’ve got through to the semi-finals,” said the former Fisher Athletic manager.

“Again we gave ourselves a hard task by going behind so early on - it’s becoming an Achilles heel and a poor habit but fair play, after the hour the fitness told and we’re worthy winners in the end.

“I’m a believer that if you put the performances in results will come with them and I’ve told the players to believe in that.”

Despite making a short coach trip to Park View Road, Edinburgh revealed his pre-match motivation techniques.

“Today coming on the bus we had last year’s final on (video),” he said. “The players played with no fear, they let the shackles come off them I’m delighted with some of the passing during the second half.

Wings boss Adrian Pennock, meanwhile, told www.kentishfootball.co.uk that he was “proud” of his team.

“I was proud of them to be fair - we gave it everything,” said the disappointed Ipswich born manager.

“When they train full-time, they looked stronger and fitter than us in the end.

“You’ve got to give them credit as well but I would like to give my whole team credit to be fair.

“We were in at half-time, I was pleased with the first half performance but sometimes you’ve got to put your hand up and say they were the better team and they were.

“I can’t fault the effort of the lads (it) was fantastic and we’ve got to take that on board and put it into the league now.”

Pennock was pleased with his side’s early goal, having worked on it on the training ground.

“Great start. We looked dangerous from set-pieces,” he said. “Obviously it was a training ground move that we’ve done but we looked dangerous but disappointed when they got back into the game but I can’t fault them at all.

“We’re disappointed because we wanted to go further but sometimes in football you’ve got to hold your hand up and say they were the better team in the end.”

Pennock refused to portion blame on Hyde for Grays’ first half equaliser.

He said: “It was (the pitch) so bumpy, muddy and sticky and I thought it went over his hands maybe, I don’t know.

“No. I wouldn’t fault Hydie at all, it’s just one of those things that happens in football.

“It was a good strike, just disappointed that we lost the ball in the first place (but) I’m not going to start pointing fingers at anybody because we’ve been excellent.

“We’ve ha a good cup run, a few pennies for the club and we’ve got to move on and push on in the league now.”

With sixteen games to go, Welling are currently in the final play-off berth, below Histon, Salisbury City, Bishop’s Stortford and Havant & WaterlooVille - and Pennock wants to stay there.

“We’ve gone to fifth, the teams above us I expect them to be there and we’ve got to stay there and get into the play-off’s,” he said.

“If we can do that it will be a massive achievement but it won’t be for the lack of effort (and) we’ll give it a right good go.

“If they carry on and show that attitude that they have been doing since the start of the season, we’ve got a good chance of getting into the play-off’s.”

Whilst Pennock aims for promotion, Edinburgh’s aims are staying in the Nationwide Conference in their remaining eleven games.

“There’s been a lot of factors in that,” he said. “A lot of injuries this year, a lot of upheaval.

“Let’s not hide that I’m the fifth manager this season. When you’ve had five different teachers you don’t know which way to turn or go so we’re eradicating all them areas now and I’m sure we can push on from this game today and certainly take confidence from this.”

After leading Fisher Athletic into the Nationwide Conference South last season, Edinburgh is delighted to have been given the opportunity to manage at a higher level.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for myself and I’m thankful to the chairman by standing by me,” he said.

“It would be easy to turn away because the results in the league haven’t been great but I think he knows, the fans know, the players know (that) the performances have been there and I’m sure the results will come along with that.

“If you don’t believe in yourself then no-one else is going to. I’ve got belief and I know we’ll get out this mess.”