Welling United progressed to the first round of the F.A. Cup with a hard fought win at Brislington on Saturday.

There was a swirling wind and a pitch that was bumpy in some places and boggy in others that made it very hard for either team to play fluent football.

In fairness, after conceding an early corner that came to nothing, Welling attempted to play the ball around and won a string of corners of their own.

Blaine Hudson headed one wide and Jake Gallagher’s flick had to be deflected away from another.

Hudson then again came close to his first Welling goal when he shot just over from a half cleared Jamie Day free kick that was headed back in by Joe Healy.

Jack Obersteller and goalkeeper Lee Butcher combined to foil Frank Gingell before an excellent team move involving Jake Gallagher, Kiernan Hughes-Mason and Healy needed alertness from Chris Humphries to claim just ahead of Lee Clarke.

One of several runs from Dave Peters just failed to find lively substitute Omari Simms before blocks from Tom Godsell and Jason Hughes kept out Clarke after good work from Loui Fazakerley.

Humphries was called into making a save from Gallagher early in the second half after good work by Hughes-Mason, then Pires headed over from an Obersteller corner.

Fraser Franks made the tackle of the match on Simms as Gingell thought he had played him in but he then got caught out by Simms who was forced into shooting wide by Butcher.

Sadly, some locals, probably not regular Brislington supporters, tarnished the atmosphere by setting off smoke flares and invading the pitch.

Once order was restored, Welling went ahead. Obersteller’s corner wasn’t claimed by Humphries and Clarke was able to jump and divert the ball home with his head.

Both teams had half chances before the hosts had a glorious chance to equalise. Hughes flicked the ball on to Godsell but his volley flew straight at Butcher when either side of him may well have resulted in a goal.

Unfortunately, another stoppage was caused by smoke bombs and pitch invasions but neither side looked likely to score again despite the additional seven minutes and it was Welling that awaited the F.A. Cup draw with excitement.

 

Brislington: Humphries, Godsell, Peters, Hughes, Barwood, Rimmer, Gifford, Peart (Dyer 72), Meacham (Charles 88), Lambert (Simms), Gingell.

Unused substitutes: Greenwood, Perks.

Welling United: Butcher, Fazakerley, Obersteller, Day, Franks, Hudson, Gallagher, Clarke, Pires,  Hughes-Mason (Guthrie 85), Healy.

Unused substitutes:Turner, Dyer, Webb.

Referee: David Rock

Welling star man: Jake Gallagher

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.