In amongst the chaos of forty-four players taking part at various times, Charlton Athletic retained the Eric Brackstone memorial trophy with victory at Welling United.
On what would have been the late Welling United Life President’s ninety-first birthday, just under 1,200 people watched his beloved Wings defeated by the Addicks.
George Clayden had the first opportunity when cutting in and letting fly with a shot that clattered the bar then Jayden Stockley’s close range header was claimed by the Welling goalkeeper at the second attempt.
Eleven minutes had passed when Charlton marked their fast start with a goal. Albie Morgan created it with a through ball that sent Diallang Jaiyesimi free down the inside left channel and he fired an excellent drive into the bottom corner.
Morgan again caused problems with a dangerous low driven cross but nobody was able to get on the end of it to finish. Stockley then headed narrowly wide from Jaiyesimi’s cross and it came as no surprise when Charlton extended their lead.
Clayden again cut in from the right hand side before unleashing a shot inside the near post.
Noticing the Welling keeper off his line, Morgan tried his luck from forty-five yards but there were no further clear cut chances and the first half finished with Charlton two goals to the good.
Ian Adkins, Charlton’s manager, made ten changes at the break with only goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray continuing into the second period. Welling manager Steve Lovell made five changes at the interval and it was his team that started the brighter.
MacGillivray had to be on his toes to tip a deflected header over before Charlton settled and won a free kick in a dangerous area. Aaron Henry took the responsibility for it but fired well over.
However, Henry was not to be denied for much longer and just shy of the hour mark, he made some space for himself before firing home from twenty yards. Two minutes later, MacGillivray’s participation was ended with Nathan Harkness replacing him.
It was then the turn of the hosts to have a good spell and one of the trialists who came on at the break had a shot deflected wide.
Lovell made three more changes before another trialist fired well wide for Welling. At the other end Josh Davison’s low cross just evaded Hady Ghandour before the Wings made their last three changes.
The final opportunity went the way of the visitors but Welling’s substitute trialist goalkeeper made a brilliant save to thwart Davison.
Welling United: Trialist,(Trialist 65) Barnes (Trialist 65), Trialist (Trialist 46), Pearce (Trialist 77), Mvemba (Trialist 77), Ilic (Trialist 46), Durojaiye (Trialist 65), Shokunbi (Trialist 46), Campbell (Trialist 46), Della-Verde (Trialist 46), Akinyemi (Trialist 77).
Charlton Athletic first half: MacGillivray, Roddy, Purrington, Dobson, Elerewe, Pearce, Jaiyesimi, Dempsey, Stockley, Morgan, Clayden. Unused subs: Santos, Burstow, Aouachria
Charlton Athletic second half: MacGillivray (Harness 60), Barker, Oguntayo, Powell, Famewo, Bakrin, Henry, Vennings, Washington, Davison, Ghandour. Unused subs: Santos, Burstow, Aouachria
Welling goalscorers: None
Charlton goalscorers: Jaiyesimi (12), Claydon (25), Henry (58)
Referee: Simon Finnigan
Assistants: Peter Cruise & Jack Mottram
4th Official: Nick Wheeler
Attendance: 1,152
Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.