Goals, incidents, yellow cards and red cards made for fascinating viewing when Welling United visited Bishop’s Stortford.

There was also the sub-plot of it being the last game Adam Coombes would play for Welling which overshadowed the fact that Welling had two players making debuts.

Swirling winds and a boggy pitch meant that the football was never likely to be a classic but the mistakes made by both teams made it enthralling at times.

Coombes was in action quickly when firing in a drive that was well saved by Harry Voss. He soon followed with another strong run but ended it with a shot off target.

Vas Karagiannis, on loan from Maidstone United, was next to try his luck but his shot was blocked by a defender putting his head in the way.

However, nobody could stop him from giving Welling a deserved early lead. Harry Crawford’s pass was perfect, Karagiannis made a perfect first touch before his exquisite finish gave Voss no chance.

Strangely, Welling went into their shell and were lucky not to concede when Shomari Barnwell set up a great chance for Luke Callander but he stumbled over the ball with the goal at his mercy.

Half chances came at both ends before Stortford levelled. Phil Walsh headed a corner on for an unchallenged Callander to head home at the far post.

Matt Fish and Karagiannis both fired over before Callander missed another open goal just before the break. Aaron Greene’s drive came back off the post to Callander all alone in the centre of the goal but he somehow managed to knock it over the bar from ten yards out.

He made amends twelve minutes after the break, however. Once again he met a nodded on corner unchallenged, and once again he headed home.

Rhys Murrell-Williamson was brought on by Welling for his debut and fired a shot well over before Greene again struck the woodwork, albeit with the aid of a massive deflection by Fish.

Jamie Slabber came on for Harry Crawford and Coombes was withdrawn into a midfield position.

There was drama when Sam Hatton’s corner eluded Voss and appeared to be scooped out by the hand of a defender before Zach Fagan missed a great chance against his former club when firing wide.

Hatton’s equaliser with two minutes remaining could not be denied. From just inside the touchline he swung in another dangerous free kick that evaded all the runners and appeared to go through the hands of Voss.

Deep into injury time there was further drama when Hatton went down in the penalty area. As a spot kick was not awarded, the Stortford players surrounded the referee baying for a diving yellow card.

Hatton took exception and got up only for Antonio Lazzari to intervene with what appeared to be a butt.

Players from both teams steamed in and the referee ran round in circles peeping furiously before it settled down. First Lazzari and then Hatton were shown red cards.

Soon afterwards, one last peep signified the end of the game

 

Bishop’s Stortford: Voss, Rodgers, Davidson, Bray, Walsh, Lazzari, Everitt, Hickford, Callander (Fagan 75), Barnwell, Greene.

Subs not used: Ford, Kouassi, Stephenson, Ronto.

 

Welling United: Lewington, Fish, Brown, Hatton, Waldren, Francis, Karagiannis, Fuseini (Murrell-Williamson 62), Crawford (Slabber 72), Coombes, Walker.

Subs not used: Johnson, Richards, Agu.

 

Bishop’s Stortford

Goalscorers: Callander (33) (57)

Yellow cards: Lazzari, Barnwell

Red cards: Lazzari

 

Welling United:

Goalscorers : Karagiannis (13), Hatton (88)

Yellow cards: Fish

Red cards: Hatton

 

Referee: Christopher Pollard

Assistants: Tom Bishop and Oliver Morris Sanders

 

Attendance: 266

 

Welling star player: Karagiannis

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.