Part two of the festive season double header between Tonbridge Angels and Welling United ended the same way as the first with a tight victory for Warren Feeney’s Wings.

All the goals were scored in the first half but there were plenty of talking points in the second period of an entertaining match.

Feeney’s team came out in lively fashion and twice came close in the opening exchanges. Aaron Powell whipped in a great cross that only required a touch from Antony Papadopoulos, but he was unable to apply it.

Taylor Maloney then delivered a free kick, Manny Parry knocked it down and Jamie Sendles-White diverted it onto the bar and over.

Maloney fired a free kick just wide before James Dunne blasted over after Craig Braham-Barrett’s clearance fell into his path.

It came as no surprise when Welling went ahead just after the fifteen-minute mark. Dan Nkrumah and Powell combined down the left wing, Amadou Kassarate dummied it for Maloney. He passed it forward to Kassarate who backheeled it back to him, and Maloney struck an unstoppable shot beyond Jonny Henly.

Shaken into action, the Angels created a chance when Lewis Gard delivered a corner, Jamie Fielding headed back but it was just out of the reach of Tommy Parkinson. Turner then had an opportunity when he cut in from the right, made space, but dragged his left footed shot wide.

Midway through the first half, the visitors levelled. Scott Wagstaff crossed, and it fell for Gard who picked his spot inside the far post.

Now in the ascendancy, Wood again cut in and got a better connection than his previous effort only for Kassarate to make a brilliant block. Then Tonbridge missed a great chance to go ahead. Fielding crossed low and Jordan Greenidge had more time than he realised and stabbed his first time shot wide.

As the first half drew to a close, Welling again had the better of the attacks and Powell launched over after a corner was half cleared before they regained the lead. Nkrumah twisted his defender inside out before firing in a low cross that Ade Azeez bundled home at the near post.

Tonbridge might have equalised immediately. Greenidge crossed to Gard whose shot was saved brilliantly by Myles Roberts.

Just as they had done in the first half, Welling came out strongly after the break. A swift passing move gave Maloney the opportunity to play in Powell, but his drive went wide. Angels skipper Sonny Miles, then cleared a cross-shot by Azeez off the line with Kassarate awaiting a tap in.

Papadopoulos then had a great chance when bringing down a long pass well before turning his man and shooting low only to see his effort come back off the post.

Jay Saunders introduced Thomas Fagg to the fray, and he almost made an immediate impact with a long-range effort that went just over before he was involved in a controversial incident at the other end. Kassarate surged past him in the penalty area, and it appeared that he had tripped the Welling midfielder.

Much to everyone’s surprise, the referee awarded a free kick to the visitors and showed Kassarate a yellow card for simulation.

Saunders went on all-out attack for the visitors, taking off defender Parkinson, and bringing on striker Louis Collins.

Wood went close when his shot was finger tipped away by Roberts however, after that, excellent defending by Welling limited the visitors to long range shots. Wood blasted over then Gard did likewise.

As Tonbridge threw players forward, they left themselves prone to the break and Azeez had a chance to finish the contest, but he was thwarted by Henly who made an excellent save with his right boot.

Substitute Ruben Soares-Junior couldn’t keep his shot down in the last minute of stoppage time and Tonbridge’s record of never having won a league game at Welling continued for another year.

Welling United: Roberts, James, Powell, Dunne, Sendles-White, Parry, Kassarate, Nkrumah (Elito 77), Papadopoulos (Curran 84), Azeez, Maloney (90+2).

Sub not used: McKenzie-Lyle, Howard.

Goalscorers: Maloney (16), Azeez (45)

Yellow cards: Dunne, Papadopoulos, Kassarate

Tonbridge Angels: Henly, Fielding, Braham-Barrett, Wagstaff, Miles, Parkinson (Collins 72), Gard, Aransibia (Fagg 64), J. Wood, Greenidge, Turner (Soares-Junior 80).

Subs not used: Hinds, Tyrie.

Goalscorers: Gard (23)

Yellow cards: Aransibia, Parkinson

Referee: Robert Claussen

Assistants: Howard Collins and Teddy Osborn

Attendance: 932

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.