Despite being reduced to nine men and with no recognised goalkeeper for the last four minutes plus injury time, Welling held on to claim a well deserved three points at Havant and Waterlooville.
They almost started disastrously when Havant created a great opportunity in the first minute. Bradley Tarbuck slid Wes Fogden in but his shot across goal just missed the far post.
After that, Welling settled and enjoyed the better of the first half. Eli Phipps twice came close before Jeffrey Monakana did the hard part before firing over from twenty yards
Monakana was involved in Welling’s next attack when he played it in, Phipps knocked it across and Christian Nanetti’s close range shot was kept out by a stunning save by Ryan Young.
He could do little about Welling’s next chance though. Jordan Rose took a wild swing at Olumide Durojaiye and although he didn’t make contact, the intent was there and a free kick was awarded correctly. Jack Jebb stepped up and curled superbly into the top corner. Rose continued to dispute the award and was cautioned for dissent.
When Havant equalised nine minutes later, it was against the run of play when Fogden finished well from a clever Theo Lewis pass.
However, they were only level for one minute as Monakana’s pace was again too much for the Havant defence and he showed good composure to square for Jebb to finish comfortably.
When the teams came out for the second period, Welling were happy to defend more deeply and try and hit Havant on the break. Tarbuck missed a chance for the Hawks before Welling claimed a third.
Nanetti was the creator with a square ball for Joe Healy to strike home clinically.
Lee Bradbury, Havant’s manager, reacted by bringing on veteran striker Matt Tubbs and Alfie Rutherford and the former almost made an immediate impact but Dillon Barnes made a great save.
There followed a flash point between the two players when Tubbs blocked Barnes’ punt out and it rebounded just wide of the post with no free kick awarded much to the disbelief of the Welling goalkeeper.
He may still have been fuming when Jamie Coyle brought Jason Prior down in the area with four minutes remaining. He refused to release the ball and got involved in an ugly fracas resulting in him being dismissed and Alfie Rutherford booked. Before the penalty was taken, Coyle was shown a second yellow and also sent off.
Connor Dymond took the goalkeeper’s jersey with no goalkeeper on the bench and Sean Francis replaced Phipps before the spot kick was taken. Eventually Prior stepped up but was left shocked when Dymond stood up and saved.
It might have been all over as a contest when Monakana put Nanetti in but his shot flew wide.
As injury time started Prior pulled one back from Rose’s pass before Welling missed another great chance when again Monakana led a break and played in Nanetti, but again the Italian winger failed to finish the match when missing the target.
Tubbs had one last chance six minutes into injury time when firing over Dymond’s goal.
Havant and Waterlooville: Young, Williams (Tubbs 68), Stock, Woodford, Harris, Fogden, Lewis, Prior, Tarbuck, Rose, Widdrington (Rutherford 68). Subs not used: Strugnell, Walker-Harris, Robinson.
Welling United: Barnes, Dymond, Jefford, Durojaiye, Coyle, Parkinson, Monakana (Bojaj 90), Healy (Pattisson 84), Phipps E (Francis 90), Jebb, Nanetti. Subs not used: Johnson, Milton.
Havant and Waterlooville:
Goalscorers: Fogden (42), Prior (90)
Yellow cards: Rose, Woodford, Rutherford
Red cards: None
Welling United:
Goalscorers: Jebb (33), Jebb (43), Healy (66).
Yellow cards: Coyle
Red cards: Barnes, Coyle
Referee: Robert Massey-Ellis
Assistants: Shelby Elson and Barrie Small
Attendance: 826
Welling star player: Connor Dymond
Images courtesy of Dave Budden