Playing their third Vanarama National League South in six days, Welling United claimed a point at ten man Aveley.

Although Welling manager Rod Stringer would like to have made the extra man count, going through the tough period with a victory and two draws is a reasonable return following their win-less run. 

In the early stages, Aveley had a succession of corners but the nearest that they came to scoring was when a delivery by Joel Thompson came off a Welling defender and Rhys Lovett had to get down sharply to save. Razzaq Coleman De-Graft then had a sight of goal but pulled his shot wide.

Zain Walker then went on a long run for Welling to create a chance for Garrett Kelly. His shot struck Thompson which wrong-footed goalkeeper Carey Bloedorn who was relieved to see it go past the post. Chiori Johnson’s low cross then hit Kelly and rebounded into the grateful arms of Bloedorn.

Thompson was again in the thick of the action with an effort that was blocked away for a corner then Josh Anifowose sent over a low cross that Manny Ogunrinde was unable to turn home.

Nine minutes before half time, Anifowose’s game ended when his dangerous high kick caught Dave Winfield in the face and the Aveley man was shown a red card. The rest of the first half was played out with ten aside as the Welling captain was treated for his facial injury. In his absence, Coleman De-Graft had a half chance that went wide. 

After the half time break, the referee was still not satisfied that Winfield was able to return and six minutes had passed before he was allowed back on. Coleman De-Graft had another chance when arriving late at the far post but Lovett got across to turn his shot wide.

Josh Redfearn shot narrowly wide of the near post with Bloedorn rooted to the spot however, it was the ten men hosts who went ahead just shy of the hour mark. Hamza Semakula’s low cross was flicked on by Coleman De-Graft as far as David Kawa who fired home. Sadly for him, he was unable to celebrate as he fell awkwardly onto his elbow and, after lengthy treatment, he was stretchered off.

It came close to being two when another Semakula cross picked out Ibby Akanbi whose crouching header was tipped over acrobatically by Lovett.

Substitute Elliot Long slid a pass to Gene Kennedy that gave him a sight on goal but he didn’t hit it cleanly and it went wide then Bloedorn dropped a Maxwell Statham cross and was relieved to catch it on the bounce before a Welling striker was able to pounce.

Winfield’s header from a Kennedy corner was claimed by Bloedorn then, at the other end, Lovett saved from Akanbi.

Two minutes of regulation time remained when Welling equalised. Alex Lankshear crossed deep and Long controlled it before beating Bloedorn at the near post.

When the fourth official held up the numbers board, thirteen additional minutes were indicated and Welling piled on the pressure. Jack Burchell fired well over after Anthony Grant’s cute pass had given Redfearn the opportunity to lay it into his path.

Bloedorn then flapped away a cross and it came to Grant whose shot was struck sweetly, but too straight, and the Aveley goalkeeper was able to parry and then claim it. Statham crossed and Kennedy’s glancing header went beyond the far post before there was yet another stoppage for an injury to Manny Ogunrinde.

Kennedy hit a snapshot just wide and Winfield had a header saved before the second half ended over an hour after it had started. 

Stringer now has over two weeks to work with his team before their next league game although they have a Kent Senior Cup game at Phoenix Sports during that period. 

Aveley: Bloedom, Semakula, Thompson, Giles, Carlyle, Kabongolo, Ogunrinde, Anifowose, Kawa (Akanbi 66), Coleman De-Graft (Owen 83), Leathens (Allen 86).

Subs not used: Aileru, Kpakpe.

Goalscorer: Kawa (59)

Yellow card: Semakula

Red card: Anifowose (36)

Welling United: Lovett, Johnson (Statham 55), Osew (Grant 86), Burchell, Winfield, Lankshear, Kelly (Taylor-Crossdale 55), Wells (Bramble 65), Redfearn, Walker (Long 72), Kennedy.

Subs not used: None.

Goalscorers: Long (88)

Yellow card: Walker

Referee: Chay Hathway

Assistants: Nicholas Garside and Pablo Aguilar Cabanes

Fourth Official: Paul Stratton

Attendance: 546