Tristan Abrahams scored a late equaliser at Gosport Borough to earn never say die Welling United a second chance in the F.A. Cup Third Qualifying game.
Danny Bloor’s Wings controlled the first half and went in ahead but ten minutes of craziness after the interval left Welling chasing with ten men until Abrahams’ last gasp leveller.
After a cagey start, Crossley Lema cut in and shot just over with Toby Stewart floundering before the Gosport goalkeeper made a good low save to keep out Jephte Tanga’s well struck effort.
Midway through the first half, Welling went ahead. Kain Adom was given space on the edge of the penalty area and he took his time before curling his shot into the top corner.
Antony Papadopoulos struck a free kick from a similar position from which he scored against Dartford in the previous round, but it was deflected just wide. In a rare foray, the Borough had a chance when Dan Wooden’s deep cross found Brad Tarbuck whose shot into the ground ballooned up for Welling goalkeeper Ben Winterbottom to claim.
Just before the half time break, Welling had a chance to double their lead when Abrahams got through however he made a hash of his opportunity and shot well over.
Less than two second half minutes had passed when the hosts drew level. It appeared that Winterbottom was going to claim a long clearance but Rafael Ramos stretched out a leg and got enough of a touch to flick it past him and into the net.
Adom was then fouled by Charlie Wassmer and retaliated resulting in both being shown yellow cards. As Adom had been booked earlier, it meant that he was dismissed and Welling reduced to ten men. Despite that, Steward stopped Welling from going back ahead when making a great save from Papadopoulos after Tanga had dummied Jack Burchell’s cross.
Things then went from bad to worse for Welling when they conceded again. Lachlan Byrd’s pass out was intercepted by Ramos. He squared to an unmarked Wooden who made no mistake from twelve yards.
Tanga’s appeals for a penalty were refuted when he appeared to have been flattened after Steward dropped a cross before Byrd headed wide when James Vaughan’s deep corner was clipped back by Burchell.
Again Tanga was in the thick of it when picking out Abrahams with a centre but his first time volley flew well over.
Another penalty shout fell on deaf ears when Papadopoulos appeared to have been fouled as he was about to pull the trigger before a breakaway by Gosport could have finished the tie. Two attacking players were unmarked in the middle when Harry Kavanagh burst down the right but his square pass couldn’t beat Burchell who was able to clear.
Abrahams and Dominic Odusanya were both off target and all looked lost as eight minutes of additional time were signalled. However, in the seventh of them, Welling levelled. Cameron Green squared from the left to find Abrahams and this time his aim was true when he arrowed his shot into the bottom corner.
Now the two teams must do it all again when they meet at the J. Hearnden Skip Hire Community Stadium, Welling on Wednesday evening.
Gosport Borough: Steward, Kavanagh, Sharp, Hollands, Medway (Jordan 74), Wassmer, Tarbuck, Cumberbatch, Wooden, Efedje (Barsa 61). Ramos (Tarpey 74). Subs not used: Davis-Stephenson, Williams.
Goalscorers: Ramos (47), Wooden (54)
Yellow cards: Efedje, Sharp, Wassmer
Welling United: Winterbottom, Lema (Bramble 78), Green, Vaughan, Byrd, Burchell, Tanga, Odusanya (MacAllister 89), Abrahams, Papadopoulos (Muwonge 89), Adom. Sub not used: Pitterson, Bayford, Kassarate, Addae.
Goalscorers: Adom (22).Abrahams (90+8)
Yellow cards: Adom
Red card: Adom
Referee: Charles Martland
Assistants: Sean Jenkins and Anthony Cross
Attendance: 1,023
Images courtesy of Dave Budden