As it started to look that Welling United were going to go home empty handed they were gifted an equaliser as a result of ill discipline by Oxford City captain Lee Henderson.

Although, Welling started brightly, they lost their way in the first half and were indebted to some good saves from Dillon Barnes until conceding just before the break.

Even after the interval, when they were the better side, they struggled to break down the Oxford defence until they were presented with a penalty.

In the early stages, Ian Gayle twice headed off target from Jack Jebb corners before Oxford started to press.

New signing, Rob Sinclair, was influential in much of their attacking play and Barnes was called into action regularly. First he saved from Zac McEachran, before Tom Bradbrook did well to guide an Eddie Jones header over his own bar.

Another McEachran shot looked destined for the bottom corner before Barnes again intervened diving full length to save.

Jeffrey Monakana went on a thrilling run for Welling and it looked as though he was going to walk it in before being robbed by a last ditch tackle but Oxford were soon on the attack again and Matt Patterson headed over after good work from Sinclair.

Just as it looked as though the teams were going to go in level, Sinclair marked his Oxford debut with a goal when spinning and firing home from fifteen yards.

Early in the second half Monakana found Tom Bradbrook in space, but he headed straight at Jack Stevens.

Bradley Goldberg went on a run down the wing, cut in, and tried his luck from twenty yards but Stevens was able to dive to save.

Monakana then put over a cross that was blocked by a defender’s raised arm for the most blatant of penalty calls but somehow, both referee James Bell, and his assistant, failed to spot the offence much to the shock of Welling players and supporters alike.

Gayle headed down and over from another Jebb corner then Goldberg brought another good save from Stevens.

Supporters of the hosts thought that their team had scored the crucial second goal when the ball ended up in the net following a massive Welling rear guard action but it was ruled out for offside.

Eleven minutes remained when Welling were given their lifeline when Henderson assaulted Jack Parkinson off the ball in the penalty area. After waiting for the dismissed Oxford captain to depart, Goldberg stepped up and buried the spot kick.

Goldberg had another effort saved and Parkinson headed wide from another Jebb corner as the two teams settled for a point apiece.

 

Oxford City: Stevens, Jones, Pearce, Navarro, Henderson, Oastler, Poku, Fleet, Paterson, McEachran, Sinclair (Forde 60, Hirst 90).

Subs not used: Ngathe, Bennett.

 

Welling United: Barnes, Gayle, Duromaide, Jebb, Coyle, Parkinson, Monakana, Dymond, Bradbrook (Macklin 63), Goldberg, Phipps (Nanetti 63).

Subs not used: Francis, Pattisson, Johnson.

 

Oxford City:

Goalscorers: Sinclair (44)

Yellow Cards: Fleet

Red cards: Henderson

 

Welling United:

Goalscorers: .Goldberg pen (79)

Yellow cards: Dymond, Phipps

Red cards: None

 

Referee: James Bell

Assistants: Alan Berrow & Adam Ricketts

 

Attendance: 252

 

Welling star player: Jeffrey Monakana

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden