After 120 minutes of hard fought football the F.A. Youth Cup 3rd qualifying round game between Welling United and Dover Athletic was decided on penalties.
Tired legs and the pressure of the situation resulted in only three of the ten penalties being converted but Ollie Milton and Sam Leach dispatched theirs whilst only Ryan Kingsford could beat Welling custodian Diumanis Gossena.
Early chances went Welling’s way and Milton almost embarrassed Dover goalkeeper Harry Earls when charging down his cross but it fell just out of the reach of Nathan Mampono and Dover were able to clear.
Didi Noombe then went on a long run but his shot hit a Dover chest and went out for a corner.
Tom Hever had a shot cleared off the line and Milton headed wide before Dover came into the game.
Marshall Wratten fired a shot that Gossena turned round for a corner. Although Welling headed out the delivery, Matthew Robinson let fly from 30 yards with a shot into the top corner that gave Gossena no chance.
Jack Cussen headed over from a Wratten cross before being sent off for dissent following the White’ next attack. His shot was deflected towards the bottom corner and Gossena pulled it back by the post. Cussen thought it had crossed the line and told the assistant referee so in a manner that was too colourful and the referee brandished his red card immediately.
Lucas Hart and Jack Raines both shot well over for Welling before Kingsford headed another excellent Wratten cross wide for Dover.
Hever then headed Welling’s best chance of the first half over when well placed from Raines’ corner.
Neither team made changes at half time and the first real chance of the second period went Welling’s way. Milton burst clear but was forced wide as he attempted to round Earls and was unable to get his shot away.
Robinson had two great opportunities to score a second but first his shot went just wide with Gossena an onlooker, then Wratten sent him away but the Welling goalkeeper made himself big and blocked the shot.
Despite being short handed, Dover continued to look dangerous on the break. Jordan Bartlett had a free kick well saved then Wratten showed great skill to create a shooting chance but volleyed wide.
Lucas Hart twice drew saves out of Earls before Kingsford headed wide from close range for Dover.
At the other end, Milton sent Mampono clear but he blasted wide of the near post.
Earls then made a brilliant save from a Milton header and it looked as though their hopes were gone.
However, with three minutes remaining Welling levelled. Raines put in an excellent cross to the far post where Milton bundled home.
Deep into injury time, Dover manager Michael Sandman was dismissed for one comment too many at the referee having failed to heed earlier warnings.
Bartlett had the first chance of extra time when getting in behind but he fired over before Mampono was unable to finish an excellent Leach angled cross.
Once more Dover came close when Bartlett’s free kick came back off the post just before the extra time interval.
Leach created the first chance of the final fifteen minutes with another excellent cross but Hart was unable to hit the target with his header.
As the players fatigue took hold tackles became ragged but neither team could break the deadlock, Hever coming closest with a shot just wide from twenty yards.
So it was to penalties and it was Welling whose name will be in the draw for the next round.
Welling United: Gossena, French, Raines, Hever, Edwards, Fulbrook, Noombe (Leach 75), Baird (Belcher 73), Milton, Mampono (West 100), Hart.
Subs not used: Collier, Newman.
Dover Athletic: Earls, Smith, Bond, Dixon, Spencer (Chamberlain 79), Rai, Bartlett, Robinson (Belcher 81), Cussen, Kingsford, Wratten.
Subs not used: Smith, Mesquite, Creed.
Welling United:
Goalscorers: Milton (87)
Yellow cards: Belcher, Edwards
Red cards: None
Dover Athletic:
Goalscorers: Robinson (11)
Yellow cards: Bartlett, Rai
Red cards: Cussen, Sandman (Manager)
Man of the match: Marshall Wratten
Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.