There was late evening drama as Welling United bowed out of the F.A. Youth Cup after a penalty shoot-out at home to Dorking Wanderers.

Following a late injury to goalkeeper Harry Charlesworth, centre back Luca Fulco went in goal and it was he who made the crucial save.

Ollie Rawlins had a great chance for the visitors in the early minutes but shot over before Welling’s Charlie Connell thumped a free kick just wide. Rawlins had another opportunity when he headed wide.

However, in the nineteenth minute, Welling broke the deadlock. David Kamara tracked back and caught Jay Richardson in possession before sending Kyle Moore clear down the right. He squared and Antonio Morgan arrived late to finish in style.

Their lead lasted just three minutes before parity was restored. Rawlins got in behind and as he tried to round goalkeeper Archie Aldous, he was brought down. Rawlins waited while the Welling keeper was shown a yellow card before sending him the wrong way from the spot.

Luke Ejash-Vili shot wide for Dorking before Joe Freeman met a Welling free kick with a first time volley that was off target. Welling then took control of the remainder of the first half. Kamara headed over at the near post before wrong-footing the Dorking defence with a clever turn but thrashed over.

They continued to play good passing after the break but struggled to create clear cut chances and might have paid for it when Hayden Gale cut back for Dorking to create an opportunity for Rawlins however, Aldous was alert and blocked his shot at the near post.

Kamara had another chance with fifteen minutes remaining but headed over from Ramon Elliot’s cross then Oluwatomisin Obilana nodded wide when unchallenged. 

Three minutes remained when Ollie Godziemski was sent clear but Charlesworth came out bravely to make the save and took an inadvertent kick in the head. After a lengthy injury break, he had to be  helped off, apparently with concussion. Outfield substitute Daddi Harland-Goddard came on and Fulco donned the number one shirt.

He made a save by sticking out a leg to thwart Obilana in stoppage time, then Kamara stuck a free kick wide before the second period ended over one hour and eight minutes after it had started.

After eight penalties each, the score was seven-seven due to Welling putting one over, and Aldous making an excellent save.

Fulco saved Welling’s ninth allowing Gale to send Aldous the wrong way and sent Dorking into the first round.

Welling United: Aldous, Akinwunmi, Moore (Elliot 66), Gumbrell, Freeman, Omoregie, Morgan, Obilana, D. Kamara, Connell (Ward 60), Godziemski.

Subs not used: Finlay, Campbell, Maxime-Samuels, Ikuesan, O. Kamara.

Goalscorers: Morgan (19)

Yellow cards: Aldous, Obilana, D. Kamara, Elliot

Dorking: Charlesworth (Harland-Goddard 90+14), Cahusac, Richardson, Brown, Cowing, Fulco, Gale, Hay (Wooster 87), Rawlins, Ejash-Vili (Todman 74), Yauta-Caballero.

Subs not used: O’Hara, Brady, Lee, Russ.

Goalscorers: Rawlins pen (22)

Yellow cards: Brown, Todman

Referee: Andrew Stanford

Assistants: Oliver Storey and Mitchell Bush

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.