On The Terrace: Game Day 11

The Curfews call time on Wings FA Trophy run

Game 11

Welling United 2 – 2 Chertsey Town

(Chertsey Town win 5-4 on penalties)

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

Goalscorers: Chertsey Town – Gary Abisogun (26) Wayne Ridgley(79) , Welling United – Lekan Majoyegbe (35, 90+6)

Match Day Experience

Welling United were back home again and with the long international break in full swing, their was a bumper crowd in PVR with fans of local clubs such as Charlton Athletic, Millwall and Gillingham paying a visit to get their weekend dose of football. It may have been late September but the sun was shinning down on PVR.

Match Report

The Wings boss had chosen to make some changes to the Welling United side ahead of this FA Trophy tie, with new goalkeeper Philip Ogayi making his debut, Howard making his first start of the season, and Smith and Azeez finding themselves back in the starting line-up. The Wings’ opposition were a relatively unknown opponent, as Chertsey Town play their football in the Southern Football League Premier Division, a division Welling United haven’t competed in since 2004.

Welling United have been quick out of the blocks all season at home; however, on Saturday it was Chertsey Town who certainly started the quicker of the two sides. The first half-chance for the Curfews fell inside five minutes when an effort from outside the box looked dangerous but failed to test Ogayi. Chertsey continued to show positivity as, moments later, they had another good effort from outside the box. However, just like their previous effort, it was off target. The Wings battled hard in midfield but were struggling to get their foot in the game as the Curfews’ momentum was strong and Welling were just trying their best to weather the storm.

Just past the halfway mark of the first half, the Curfews opened the scoring. A flowing move down the Chertsey left-hand side of the pitch saw a cross pulled back from the left wing across the Wings’ penalty area, where it was latched onto by Gary Abisogun, who wrapped his left foot around the ball and found the top corner, past the diving Ogayi, who stood no chance of saving it.

The Curfews’ opener sparked the Wings into life as they started to get their foot on the ball and play some attacking patterns, and it wouldn’t be long before Lekan Majoyegbe scored the Welling equaliser. It all came from a lovely, floated cross from the Wings’ left flank, which was won at the back post by Nathan Cooper, who headed the ball back across the six-yard box. Azeez attempted to get a toe on the ball at the near post before Majoyegbe bundled the ball home at the back stick.

Welling United really then put their foot on the gas up until the halfway mark, with both wingers, Howard and Shomotun, swinging in crosses which the Curfews’ centre-halves dealt with well. There was a real moment of magic when Shomotun showed excellent footwork on the left flank, escaping two defenders in a move Houdini would be proud of before driving into the box and having his attempt cleared. The Wings’ midfield started to pull some strings before the half was up, with some superb passes in behind the Chertsey defence; however, Welling United couldn’t muster a clear-cut chance from these moments.

You could forgive the Welling faithful for thinking the second half would start the same way the first ended, but it was once again the Curfews who looked to try and stamp their authority on the game, with Chertsey midfielder Wayne Ridgley being a cut above everyone else on the pitch at that moment in time. Despite the early momentum, the Curfews hadn’t created the chance they needed to put themselves back ahead in the game.

Welling United manager Ryan Maxwell had made a couple of changes at half-time to try and help his team push on, and after about 15 minutes of the second half he made another change, bringing on Wings star winger Anyadike, who recently signed a new contract at Welling United. It was immediately clear why Welling United were so keen to tie Anyadike down, as his movement was instantly an issue for the Chertsey Town defence. His runs in behind provided a different challenge for the Curfews’ defence.

Although it was a different Welling United attacker’s run in behind which would lead to a guilt-edged chance, as a ball from midfield found Ade Azeez, who was bearing down on goal. Azeez attempted to round the Chertsey goalkeeper, but the keeper managed to get a glove to the ball, causing it to get caught between Azeez’s feet. He did manage to get a shot off, but it was blocked by the goalkeeper, although the referee didn’t seem to see it that way.

Welling United would continue to pile on the pressure, with top scorer Melvin-Lambert also making his way onto the pitch, adding another layer of threat to the Wings’ attack. A couple of half-chances were mustered by the Welling attack; however, nothing really of note came from them.

As the game entered its final ten minutes, Welling United had a long throw via Zak O’Keefe, which they were hoping to capitalise on, but it was Chertsey Town who punished the Wings instead. As the ball was half-cleared, Welling United tried to press and win the ball back, but a ball from left-back Conor Lee found itself at the feet of Chertsey star man Wayne Ridgley just inside his own half. Ridgley looked up and saw he didn’t have any real options, so took matters into his own hands and drove at the heart of the Welling United defence before unleashing a rocket of an effort into the top-left corner, so perfect that there was no goalkeeper in the world who would have even got close to it.

Welling United had been on top for the last 20 minutes of the game, and the wonder strike had rocked them a little as they really huffed and puffed but couldn’t quite muster a chance. The dream of penalties was fading away.

That was until Majoyegbe stepped up.

Just as the game looked like it was getting away from the Wings, they had one last effort and had flung both of their centre-backs forward. A ball into the Curfews’ box caused some chaos and wasn’t quite cleared as it landed at the feet of Majoyegbe, who volleyed home with all the confidence and technique of a striker. This brought about some wild celebrations in the Welling end, with fans and players alike celebrating as they had forced a penalty shoot-out.

Both teams will feel that they could have gone through in normal time, with Welling United having the better of the chances. However, Chertsey Town, having led until the 96th minute, will have been heartbroken.

Penalties are the best way to win a game, but the worst way to lose, and unfortunately it was bitter for Welling United in the shoot-out as the Chertsey players were perfect from the spot, both on the scoreboard and in execution, with Wings keeper Ogayi having no chance of saving any of the spot-kicks.

The victim of the shoot-out for Welling United was standout full-back Zak O’Keefe, who had played a great game prior to the penalties. His penalty sent the Chertsey Town keeper the wrong way, but he had just leant back too much and his penalty only found the Wings fans behind the goal and not the back of the net.

Welling United will feel disappointed to be out of two cup competitions in a week, but have another bite of the cherry as they face Cray Valley Paper Mills on Tuesday in the Kent Senior Cup. Chertsey Town will also be in action on Tuesday, but this will be in league action as they take on Poole Town.