Despite being held to a draw by St. Albans City, Welling United maintained their best home record in the Vanarama National League South.
It was a crazy match that had nearly everything but will be best remembered for some eccentric refereeing.
Danny Mills headed just wide in the first minute but the visitors settled the better and Sam Merson had a shot saved by Dan Wilks before they went ahead. After three consecutive clean sheets, Wilks had to pick the ball out of the back of the net in just the tenth minute. Soloman Sambou crossed, Merson nodded back and Zane Banton headed home from close range.
Immediately afterwards Jordan Gibbons went down with what looked to be a serious hip injury and former Crawley Town defender Lanre Oyebanjo came on for his Welling debut.
Gavin McCallum’s corner caused problems but Danny Mills’ shot was cleared off the line by Joshua McLeod-Urquhart before the Saints almost went two up when James Ewington’s shot came back out off the base of the post.
Merson fired a free kick over but after that Welling started to get a foot-hold into the game. Dean Snedker saved from a Bradley Goldberg back-heel at the second attempt then Arnaud Mendy fired over after Mills did well to chest down a Craig Braham-Barrett cross into his path.
Six minutes into the second half Richard Orlu had to be replaced when he pulled up with a hamstring strain but substitute Josh Hill wasted little time in making an impact. Brendan Kiernan’s deep cross found its way to him and he stretched to slot home.
Goldberg came close again when he met Oyebanjo’s near post cross but Snedker made a smart save at the expense of a corner. Their escape was short-lived though as Kiernan delivered the set piece and Hill evaded his marker to head home powerfully.
As the St. Albans players started an inquest, captain Tom Bender’s temper boiled over and he head-butted team-mate Sambou before launching two punches at him. Incredibly, referee Tom Bishop, after consulting his assistant, showed leniency and only cautioned Bender despite it being serious violent conduct.
Sambou, along with Ewington, was withdrawn immediately as St. Albans went for a double change but Welling were well on top and Goldberg might have scored a crucial third but was thwarted by the left boot of Snedker.
Everything changed soon after when a high ball into the visitors’ penalty area was contested and the referee saw something that he didn’t like. All the players looked bemused as he reached for his pocket and pulled out a red card and sent Mills off.
That changed the game as Welling had no target man up front and the Saints came back into the game. However, Welling gave them the chance to cause problems when some casual defending ended with the concession of a needless corner.
As the delivery came over Mendy clashed with Merson and a penalty was awarded. It wasn’t a bad foul and wouldn’t have warranted a yellow card anywhere else on the pitch but the referee deemed that the award of a spot-kick was not sufficient punishment and he showed Mendy a second yellow card. Once the fuss had died down Merson converted to level the scores.
Now down to nine men, Welling dug in well and only a shot from David Moyo that drew a comfortable save by Wilks threatened the status-quo and the teams had to settle for a point apiece.
Welling United: Wilks, Gibbons (Oyebanjo 11), Braham-Barrett, Mendy, Orlu (Hill 51), Audel, Kiernan, Ijaha, Mills, Goldberg (Anau 74), McCallum. Subs not used: Agyemang, Newton.
St Albans City: Snedker, McLeod-Urquhart, Bender, Diedhiou, Kamdjo (Herd 46), Clark, Wyatt, Sambou (Moyo 62), Merson, Ewington (Da Costa 62), Banton. Subs not used: Sole, Knight.
Welling United:
Goalscorers: Hill (55), (59)
Yellow cards: Mendy, Oyebanjo, Ijaha, Wilks
Red cards: Mills, Mendy (second yellow)
St Albans City:
Goalscorers: Banton (10), Merson pen (74)
Yellow cards: Diedhiou, Bender
Red cards: None
Referee: Tom Bishop
Assistants: Graham Kane and Tom Fell
Attendance: 581
Welling star man: Brendan Kiernan
Images courtesy of Dave Brown