Following their 4-1 victory at Sittingbourne during the week, Welling United returned to Park View Road to claim a well deserved victory over Charlton Athletic.

Jamie Day and Bob Peeters both took the opportunity to give games to a number of squad players whilst Welling also handed some triallists the chance to impress.

It took Welling just four minutes to score when one of them, Kieron St Aimie, converted a penalty after Malachi Hudson collected Joe Healy’s through ball only to be sent tumbling to the ground. The award of a spot kick was one of the easiest decisions referee Ian Crouch had to make.

Healy came close to adding to it, following his brace at Sittingbourne, when his shot came back off the foot of the post.

Lee Butcher was called into action saving Rhys Browne’s shot on the turn.

Joe Pigott scored a hat-trick in the corresponding game in 2013 but failed to hit the target when Rhoys Wiggins instigated a breakaway.

Dillon Phillips, in the Charlton goal, made an easy save when St Aimie got on the end of a Day free kick and he was called into action again, saving from Malik Ouani following more excellent work by Hudson.

Simon Church had a shot saved at one end then Ouani was thwarted at the other just before the break.

As usually happens in these games, wholesale changes were made at the break. Charlton changed their entire team while only Butcher played the full ninety minutes for the hosts.

Chris Solly enjoyed some success down the right wing and Zak Ansah failed to get a clean contact on an early cross and the ball slid beyond the far post.

Loic Nego also failed to convert a Solly cross before Ansah had an effort blocked by Jamal Fyfiel.

Ansah then headed yet another Solly centre wide as Charlton enjoyed a lot more second half possession but they failed to create many clear cut chances and paid the price when conceding again in the 77^th minute.

Jake Gallagher, who has been handed the captaincy this season, found Charlie Penny and his knock down was finished skilfully by Ashikodi.

After Johnnie Jackson’s shot had produced a regulation save from Butcher, Kiran Kinde made a brace of perfectly timed tackles to thwart Morgan Fox.

Fox shot over and both Jackson and Callum Harriott went wide as Welling held out for a win that will boost confidence before the start of the season.

 

Welling United first half: Butcher, Fazakerley, Jefford, Day, Fagan, Bush, Hudson, Corne, St. Aimie,  Healy, Ouani.

Charlton Athletic first half: Phillips, Wilson, Wiggins, Cousins, Morrison, Lennon, Browne, Munns, Church, Pigott, Holmes-Dennis.

Welling United second half: Butcher, Williams, Beale, Young, Kinde, Fyfield, Beautyman, Gallagher, Penny, Ashikodi, Gorman.

Charlton Athletic second half: Pope, Solly, Jackson, Bikey-Amougou, Nego, Harriott, Vetokele, Buyens, Gomez, Fox, Ansah.

Referee : Ian Crouch

Attn: 2360

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.