Unsurprisingly, with an important F.A. Cup match looming, Welling United made use of their Development Squad for their London Senior Cup tie at Croydon.

After just four minutes, the youthful Welling team went ahead when Marcus Kempton collected a poor clearance and fired into the bottom corner from twenty yards.

It could have been two a few moments later when Welling worked it out well but Harry Fenner did not get a clean connection and shot wide.

That proved costly as Croydon equalised in the ninth minute. Crosses flew back and forth across the Welling goal before Al-Hassan Oshilaja headed home from close range.

Andy Mott netted for the Trams but was well offside then Karl Douglin was thwarted by good goalkeeping by Charlie Cotterell.

Home goalkeeper Francis Ameyaw beat out a shot before having a lucky escape when charging out recklessly and appearing to take out Reece Collins as the Wings striker lifted it over him.

Both sides struggled to create clear cut chances after the break until the 70^th minute when Douglin  put Croydon ahead with a high class finish.

He then turned provider when doing well to keep the ball in play before squaring for substitute Tony Halsey to fire home.

Asman Jones came close to pulling one back but he thrashed his effort into the side netting.

Although, Welling continued to work hard, the match was all but over as a contest.

Both teams will be able to take something away from the game. It was a morale boosting victory for Croydon, whilst the young Welling players gained invaluable experience from a game against another club’s first team.

 

Croydon: Ameyaw, Green, Henry-Brown, Beedon, Brockman, Abrahams, Oshilaja (Lyndon 78), Mott, Toney (Halsey 50), Douglin, Fray (Miles 55).

Unused substitutes: Ede, Chin.

Welling United: Cotterell, Brand, Johnson, Birch, Aganbi, Armstrong, Kempton, Cray, Collins (Jackson 67), Fenner (Can 55), Gunner (Jones 55).

 

Referee: Jonathan Blower

Assistants:  Jeff Lengthorn and Bobby Kwatt

Man of the match:  Karl Douglin