Sahr Kabba came off the substitutes’ bench to grab an 89th minute equaliser for Welling United at home to Altrincham.

Dean Frost selected a very young starting eleven for his first home game in charge with only 23 year old Luke Wanadio, making his Welling full debut, over the age of 21..

Visitors Altrincham started brightly and Michael Rankine almost got on the end of Josh Ginnelly’s cross.

Marek Rodak saved from James Lawrie before Harry Lee’s low drive went wide for Welling.

Scott Leather should have put Altrincham ahead in a scramble from a corner but his close range effort came back off the bar.

Kadell Daniel worked himself into a shooting position but Tim Deasy saved at the second attempt. Off target shots from Daniel and Xavier Vidal followed but Altrincham were soon back on the front foot,

Josh Ginnelly hit a free kick before directing a free header into the arms of Rodak. Then Rankine missed a great chance when his delicate chip over the diving Rodak floated wide.

Wanadio had a shot beaten out by Deasy just before the break with Welling probably the happier to be going into the game level.

Jonny Margetts headed over before disastrous defending presented Altrincham with the lead. Failure to deal with a long punt forward proved costly as Rankine nipped in to roll the ball into the empty net.

Having proved successful once, Altrincham again sent Rankine away but Rodak made a brilliant save to keep Welling in the game.

It proved to be vital as Welling claimed an equaliser in the 89^th minute. One substitute, Michael Bakare, created an opportunity for Wanadio and although his effort was saved, Kabba, the other substitute, was quickest to the loose ball and he fired home gleefully.

After the game, Frost was keen to play down the issue of youth. “We can’t keep using it as an excuse. These lads have got to grow up very, very quickly. I’ve looked at the side I’ve inherited. I’ve had to go and get people on loan and they’ve been young lads.

“It’s like development football but we’ve got to get away from not playing development football anymore or we’re not playing under 21s anymore. We’re playing what I class as winning football, playing against some old experienced pros.

“We need to do the ugly things well, turn teams in early doors, win the knock downs, grow into the game, and I don’t think we grew into the game, maybe 20 minutes into the first we had a few chances, but we don’t create enough pressure around the opposition penalty area because, I think, young players, as soon as it gets around the edge of the box, they want to score that wonderful goal.”

 

Welling United: Rodak,Williams, Chesmain, Ferry, Chambers, Nortey, Daniel, Lee, Yussuf (Kabba 66), Vidal (Bakare 59), Wanadio.

Unused substitutes: McEntegart, Osborne, Wellard.

 

Altrincham: Deasy, Sinnott, Griffin, Moult, Holness, Leather, Lawrie, Richman, Rankine, Ginnelly, Margetts (Mottley-Henry 59).

Unused substitutes: Williams, Reeves, Heathcote, O’Keefe.

 

Referee: Adam Bromley

Assistants: Adrian Quelch and Andreas Anastasiou

4^th Official: Alexander Fisher

Attendance: 551

 

Welling star man: Barney Williams

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.