Despite their league struggles, Welling United have enjoyed their Kent Reliance Senior Cup run and it will go all the way following their semi final penalties victory over Charlton Athletic.
Although the Addicks brought a youthful team, some have tasted first team football and they would have been favourites to win.
After an uneventful first twenty minutes with only an off target Ben Martin header constituting a goal attempt, the game came alive with both goalkeepers proving their worth.
Brandon Hanlan used his speed to get clear for the Addicks but Chris Lewington was out quickly and made a superb block. Chris Millar followed up but was unable to get a shot away.
Hanlan then hit a fierce drive off target before Alex Cathline got beyond Anfernee Dijksteel before being felled just outside the penalty area earning the Charlton defender a yellow card. Rhys Murrell-Williamson took the responsibility with the free kick but curled it over the wall and the bar.
Cathline then went on a strong run before finding Murrell-Williamson but his shot went just wide with Dillon Phillips scrambling in the Charlton goal.
George Lapslie came close for Charlton with an effort that Lewington did superbly to push onto the post at full stretch. Eventually it came back out to Lapslie but this time it flew out of the ground.
Murrell-Williamson went on another marauding run and despite Taylor Maloney hacking at his ankles, he stayed on his feet but shot wide.
It was then Phillips’ turn to make a great save. Pierre Joseph-Dubois held it up well before playing Danny Waldren in and he thought he had put Welling ahead but the Charlton custodian did well to get down to save.
Lapslie brought another good save out of Lewington before Charlton went ahead a minute before the interval.
Lewington made another fine save from Hanlan but it came out to Millar who chested down before volleying home from the edge of the penalty area.
Archie Edwards burst down the left wing after the break but shot wildly into the park then Maloney fired over after Lewington knocked out Hanlan’s dangerous low cross.
Then Murrell-Williamson went on another run only to see his shot come back off the inside of the post.
His next effort was well off target as he shot off balance and Maloney was well wide after he had burst through at the other end.
Phillips then saved with his feet after Cathline powered his way through then Martin headed the corner over the bar.
Karlan Ahearne-Grant had a shot blocked away by Lewington for a corner before Welling equalised in the 75th minute. Sam Hatton picked out Dan Walker with a quick free kick allowing him to power down the wing. He pulled it back for Catherine whose shot found the net, via a deflection off Maloney, for his first Welling goal.
Half chances came at either end with Walker coming closest when testing Phillips with a low cross shot that the goalkeeper saved well.
That was the last chance of the ninety minutes and the tie went straight to penalties.
First up was Lapslie for Charlton but Lewington went the right way and made another great save.
Hatton converted for Welling then Hanlan had his penalty saved with Lewington going the other way to save.
Once Walker had sent Phillips the wrong way to put Welling two up, the pressure was on Charlton and Millar drilled his spot kick wide.
Matt Fish could have finished the tie but Phillips guessed right and saved well. However it mattered little as Louis Michael Lamfam blasted his effort over.
Now Welling will face Dover Athletic in the final at a date and venue to be determined.
Welling United: Lewington, Fish, Brown, Hatton, Martin, Walsh,Walker, Waldren, Cathline, Joseph-Dubois (Amu 62), Murrell-Williamson.
Subs not used: Agu, Hart, Richards, Fuseini.
Charlton Athletic Phillips, Barnes, Edwards, Dijksteel, Maloney, Bowry, Carter (Yamfam 80), Lapslie, Ahearne Grant, Millar, Hanlan.
Subs not used: Simpson, Beeney, Wiredu. Willis.
Referee: Daniel Bonneywell
Assistants: Michael Marsh and Jack Owen.
Welling United:
Goalscorers : Cathline (75)
Yellow cards: Cathline, Walker
Red cards: None
Hungerford Town:
Goalscorers: Millar (44)
Yellow cards: Dijksteel, Bowry, Maloney
Red cards: None
Attendance: 337
Man of the match: Chris Lewington
Pictures supplied by David Brown.