On The Terrace: Game Day 8

Wings wallop Wingate & Finchley

Game 8

Welling United 4 – 1 Wingate & Finchley

Venue: The Anthony Martin community Stadium (Formerly Park View Road)

Goalscorers: Welling United – Zak O’Keefe (16), Jamie Reynolds (61), Ryan Kingsford (66), Kaan Bennett (72), Wingate and Finchley – Scott Kashkett (41)

Match Day Experience

Welling United squad remains stable but there were some additions to the stadium with Stella Artois along with two barrels of ale being added to the selection of beers on tap in the fanzone, although with an new added outside bar where you can grab your drinks quicker when the game is going on. After some pretty poor weather the sun was certainly shining over PVR and this helped bring the attendance up and there was certainly a buzz and positive vibe around the ground.

Match Report

Both teams were back in action after wins in there FA cup replays with Welling United squeezing past Faversham Town whilst Wingate & Finchley had and easier time of it as they beat Felixstowe & Walton by two goals to nil.

The Wings started the better of the two teams applying lots of earlier pressure down both flanks with Anyadike and Shomotun both being given a real license to run at their full backs. Welling United’s early pressure would soon tell when Anyadike won a corner in the 15th minute of the game. Sam Smiths low bouncing delivery was met inside the 6 yard box and hooked home by Zak O’Keefe scoring his first goal in senior football (I think).

Wings continued to pile the pressure on the Blues defence and thought they had doubled their lead when a marauding run from Zak O’Keefe lead to him slipping in Anyadike on the right hand side before he laid the ball across the box to Melvin-Lambert who tapped in from close range only to be denied by the linesman flag. Zak O’Keefe who was really enjoying himself out there today had a chance for a second goal when an almost identical corner was whipped in by Sam Smith and once again O’Keefe was first to it, but this time it was just wide of the post. The right hand side of the Welling attack with Anyadike, O’Keefe, Smith and Bennett also drifting over was causing real problems for the Wingate & Finchley defence, and once again a dangerous cross from Anyadike found Melvin-Lambert in the middle of the box who was stretching at to reach the ball but couldn’t get quite enough on it to direct it goal wards.

Wingate & Finchley started to grow into the game and managed to get their foot on the ball more often and started to string together some nice patterns of play, the Blues were quite intent on playing the ball on the deck and had some lovely little player in the midfield who could certainly pick a pass but couldn’t always match the physicality of the Wings midfield, especially of Blackman and Smith who were everywhere and certainly not scared of putting a tackle in.

Wingate & Finchley did find an equaliser just before the break after a clearance lead to a footrace between Wings centre half Cooper and Blues attacker Shamalo in which the attacker got to first, before rounding Wings keeper Foley but scuffing his attempt across the box, but the ball falling his fellow attacker Kashkett who’s first attempt was stopped on the line by the scrambling Foley but his rebound found the back of the net.

At the break Welling made a change taking off I form sticker Melvin-Lambert who looked to be carrying an injury and bringing on Tuesdays match winner Ryans Kingsford. It was the substitute who had the first chance of the second half when Blackman’s cross from deep found the diving head on Kingsford but was expertly kept out by the Wingate & Finchley keeper.

Whilst Welling were certainly in the ascendancy the game had a feeling that it was going to enter a lull and Wings Boss Maxwell certainly noticed this as he made two changes on the hour mark bringing on Howard for Shomotun and Reynolds for Smith. Jamie Reynolds made an instant impact on the game as his first job was to take a free kick in which his cross-cum-shot evaded every body in the box including the keeper and found itself nesting in the back of the net. The Wings were certainly fired up with the crowd really getting behind them as they put on the high press with the Blues still attempting to play out from the box. This would cause them a real issue when the keeper was caught over playing by Kaan Bennett who robbed the ball and hit an effort on the half turn which was half saved by the Wingate keeper but Ryan Kingsford was Johnny on the spot to finish into the empty net. Things just kept getting better for Welling as from a quick corner between Reynolds and Kingsford would lead to Reynolds delivering one of the most delicious balls you are likely to see to the back post where Kaan Bennett had lost in marker and headed in past the keeper to make it three goals in ten minutes for the Wings, quickly taking the game away from Wingate & Finchley.

From this moment onwards the game was pretty much done and both sets of players played the final twenty minutes like they already knew the result of the game, there where half chances for both teams with the Blues looking to make the scoreline more respectable and Wings looking to bolster there goal difference.

Wingate & Finchley certainly played some pretty football at times but it also became there downfall a moments as well with Welling United applying a press and the midfield of Blackman, Smith and Bennett coming out on top of the battle in the middle of the park. Wingate & Finchley have endured a real mixed bag to start the season picking up just the eight points from seven games leaving them sitting 16th in the table, however they have played some of the pre season favourites to challenge the top end of the table so will be hoping for some favourable fixtures so they can start to put a run together, starting on Tuesdays game against Aveley. Whilst Welling United are really enjoying life under Maxwell sitting second in the league with only Enfield Town having a better record than the Wings. Todays game also marks 10 games at home without a defeat, the turn of Wellings form under Maxwell truly has been making PVR a place no away team wants to come, and a place where Welling fans are becoming expectant of a good performance and three points. Wings next game is against Cheshunt on Tuesday who lost three nil today so, Maxwell and his team will be hoping they can continue the good run of form at home.