Part one of the festive season derby between Welling United and Dartford produced plenty of excitement and talking points at Park View Road

If part two at Dartford’s Princes Park has the same amount of incident, the spectators should be in for a New Year’s Day cracker..

Although Dartford are top and Welling have dropped down to twelfth, ten points behind, there did not look like there was a gulf between the clubs on Boxing Day and local derbies are normally competitive.

In the first game of the two, Dartford took a two goal lead only for Welling to stage a comeback to pull level with three minutes remaining. That wasn’t the end though, and Alfie Pavey won it with a spectacular flying volley from outside the penalty area..

Different small things that happened throughout the game could have changed the overall game so many times. After Andy Pugh had put Dartford ahead, Welling might have levelled when Christian Nanetti’s low drive hit Dartford’s Tom Bonner and cannoned back off the post..

However, Pugh added a second after the interval and had Danny Mills’ shot gone in rather than crashing back off the bar, Dartford might well have had a comfortable remainder of the afternoon.

Elliot Bradbrook’s competitiveness against brother Tom then over-spilt and two crunching tackles were both fouls and helped Welling back into the game. Callum Driver scored his first Welling goal directly from a free kick to pull one back, then Jeffrey Monakana levelled.

Even after Pavey’s injury time goal had put Dartford ahead, Welling still had one more chance but Connor Dymond’s header hit the post with Dart’s keeper Deren Ibrahim well beaten.

Whilst Dartford will be looking forward to returning to Princes Park, where they have an excellent record, Welling have had much more success away where there defeat at Chelmsford City was their first since the first game of the season.

Two players, who were absent from the starting line up on Boxing Day will be available for Welling in the second episode. Player Manager Jamie Coyle missed out through illness whilst Joe Healy was completing a suspension.

In the corresponding fixture last season, played on a random Tuesday in September, the hosts claimed the points. Elliot Bradbrook’s first half penalty was saved by Chris Lewington but Alex Brown was first to the rebound to score. Their lead lasted just five minutes before Adam Coombes fired a twenty five yard free kick into the top corner.

Neither side created much in the second half until Bradbrook bundled home at the far post from substitute Ryan Hayes’ deep cross.

Images courtesy of Dave Budden