Taking a break from Vanarama National league South action Welling United head to Gosport Borough on Saturday in an F.A. Cup third qualifying round match.
It will not be an easy task for the Wings as the hosts have got off to a tremendous start to the season and head the Southern Premier South. Their cup campaign began with a seven-two away win at Laverstock & Ford before they beat Cribbs three-nil at home.
In the league, they have won eight and drawn one with only one defeat, away to Poole Town, to blot their copybook. Their attendances have been on the increase with just under a thousand watching their two-nil victory over AFC Totton on Wednesday evening.
For Welling, it will be their second F.A. Cup tie on the road after they saw off Dartford in the second qualifying round. That was an exciting encounter in which both teams held leads however, a hat-trick by Antony Papadopoulos, his first in senior football, saw the Wings prevail by the odd goal in five.
Last Saturday, Welling travelled to Eastbourne Borough, one of the promotion favourites. Although they might have taken a point before the game started, they left disappointed to have conceded a late equaliser after Jephte Tanga and Tristan Abrahams had scored their first Welling goals to over-turn the Sports’ lead.
When Welling last visited Gosport in a National League South game on 5th November 2016, most of the fireworks were at the wrong end for the Wings. Jamie Day was their Head Coach that day but it was the hosts who hit the post and the bar in the first ten minutes. However, the visitors went ahead when Matt Fish led a break down the right wing and crossed deep for Adam Coombes to head home.
After the half time break, Gosport were awarded a penalty taken by Warren Bentley but Chris Lewington made a stunning save. It appeared that Welling would claim the three points only for Ben Wright to flick home a last minute equaliser. There was still time for the Wings to create one last chance when Lyle Della-Verde sent Coombes away but this time it was Welling’s turn to be denied by the woodwork when their leading scorer’s shot flew out off the post.
Welling manager Danny Bloor might have preferred a draw closer to home but wasn’t overly concerned. He said “People say what draw do you want but we just have to deal with what’s thrown upon you and as I’ve got older I think that it’s important that me as manager of this football club has to have that outlook. We just have to deal with things.“
Picture supplied by Dave Budden.