Part one of the festive season double header between Tonbridge Angels and Welling United ended with a tight victory for Warren Feeney’s Wings.

They started the brighter and had the first opportunity when a Taylor Maloney corner fell into the path of Manny Parry, but his first-time effort flew over.

At the other end, an awkward bounce struck debutant Aaron Powell but the Angels’ appeal for a penalty was half-hearted.

Myles Roberts then struggled with a low cross by James Fielding and could only push it out as far as Jack Wood, however the Welling goalkeeper was up quickly to make an excellent stop.

Soon after Jordan Greenidge headed wide from Louis Collins’ cross then Devonte Aransibia’s header was well defended by Jamie Sendles-White who nodded it over his own bar.

Sonny Miles’ header was blocked on the line by Roberts as Tonbridge finished the first period on top.

Although Wood cut in and shot beyond the far post early in the second period, Welling started at a quicker tempo and scored an excellent goal ten minutes in.

A move involving Powell and Maloney presented a chance for Daniel Nkrumah to cross and he picked out Ade Azeez who finished confidently.

Aransibia found Collins who turned well, but shot wide, then Nkrumah was off target at the other end. Aransibia, who was a Welling player earlier in the season, let fly from twenty-five yards only to see his shot crash against the bar and fly over.

Substitute Medy Elito created a shooting chance for Maloney however his radar was off, and he shot wide before Stefan Payne had a great chance to double Welling’s lead. Azeez sent Stefan Payne clear, and he slotted beyond Jonathan Henly only to see it come back off the base of the post.

Craig Braham-Barrett found Greenidge, but he scuffed his shot wide, and Tonbridge had to wait until the final minute of injury time to create another opening.

They won a corner and it fell for Henly, who had joined the attack, and he had two shots blocked. It went out for another corner that Henly met with a strong header that Roberts tipped over.

That proved to be the end of the action as Jack Packman blew the final whistle.

On New Year’s Day the teams meet again at Park View Road, Welling, for what is likely to be another tight encounter.

Tonbridge Angels: Henly, Fielding, Braham-Barrett, Wagstaff, Miles, Swift, Gard (Turner 74), Aransibia, J. Wood, Greenidge, Collins (Fagg 82).

Subs not used: Parkinson, Hinds, Golding.

Goalscorers:

Yellow cards: Wagstaff, Greenidge, Swift

Welling United: Roberts, James, Powell, Dunne, Sendles-White, Parry, Kassarate, Nkrumah (Elito 67), Payne (Curran 84), Azeez (Barnes 90+1), Maloney.

Sub not used: McKenzie-Lyle, Andrews.

Goalscorers: Azeez (55)

Yellow cards: Kassarate, Azeez, Payne, Elito

Referee: Jack Packman

Assistants: Stephen Goldup and Daniel Blades

Attendance: 1,270

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.