There’s usually little to choose between the two clubs when Tonbridge Angels and Welling United meet.

Therefore, it came as no surprise when the honours were shared at Welling’s J. Hearnden Skip Hire Community Stadium.

Cameron Green’s early free kick was met by Joe Ellul whose firm header was claimed comfortably by Jonny Henly after which, the visitors then enjoyed the better of the territorial advantage without creating a lot.

Nathan Odokonyero was well off target before the Angels were forced into a change when Jamie Fielding had to be withdrawn. Francis Mampolo replaced him and Tariq Hynds moved to right back from his more advanced position.

Mampolo hadn’t been on long, and maybe hadn’t settled into the game, when Lewis Gard sent him through. However, with just Reice Charles-Cook to beat, he screwed his shot wildly wide. The Angels continued to press and went ahead shortly afterwards. This time Scott Wagstaff was the creator when he dispossessed Welling debutant Gene Kennedy. He sent Odokonyero through and the Ebsfleet United loanee tucked it away without fuss.

Another chance went awry for Tonbridge when Sean Shields picked out an unmarked Mampolo but he volleyed over. The Angels almost paid for that when Ellul beat Henly from a Green corner, only for Gard to nod it off the line from just under the bar.

One minute before the break, the Angels increased their lead. Mampolo crossed, Jordan Higgs nodded it down and Shields shot. Although Charles-Cook made an excellent save, it fell kindly for Odokonyero and he tucked it away from inside the six yard box.

Whatever was said in the Welling changing room at half time appeared to have an effect as the team came out with far more intent.

Jason Adigun hit a shot that crashed back off the bar and there would have been outrage had it gone in as the referee was far too quick to blow his whistle for a Welling free kick. Antony Papadopoulos took it and beat the defensive wall, but also the far post. That was the last of the action for the Welling player as he was replaced by Reece Grant who came on for his debut.

Midway though the second half, Welling pulled one back. A ricochet flew into the path of Adigun and he met it with a sweet volley that gave Henly no chance.

Jay Saunders brought on defender Ryan Hanson, his new signing from Torquay United, to try to shore up the Tonbridge defence. Slightly against the run of play, Shields had a chance to finish the contest but shot beyond the far post.

Rod Stringer, the Welling manager, went for all out attack when replacing defender Jack Burchell with striker Luke Holness but it was the Angels had a half chance when Kodi Lyons-Foster skimmed a header wide from a corner.

However, Welling continued to press and scored the equaliser that they deserved two minutes into stoppage time. Adigun sent in a low driven cross and Sonny Fish’s extraordinary work-rate was rewarded when he stuck his leg out to divert it home.

Shields almost put the Angels back ahead when his drive rattled the crossbar then Fish came close at the other end with a shot across the face of goal.

Although a point wasn’t what either side really wanted, a draw was probably a fair outcome.

Welling United: Charles-Cook, Lema, Green, Burchell (Holness 85), Ellul (Wood 62), Byrd, Adigun, A. Grant, Fish, Papadopoulos (R. Grant 62, Kennedy. Sub not used: Krabbendam, Johnson.

Goalscorers: Adigun (68), Fish (90+2)

Yellow card: Kennedy, Stringer

Tonbridge Angels: Henly, Fielding (Mampolo 20), Vincent, Higgs, Lyons-Foster, Sutcliffe, Hynds, Wagstaff, Odokonyero (Greenidge 86), Shields, Gard (Hanson 77). Unused subs: Aransibia, Dabre.

Goalscorers: Odokonyero (27),(44).

Yellow cards: Vincent, Mampolo, Henly

Referee: Robert Ablitt

Assistants: David Payne and Declan Wyatt

Attendance: 570

Images courtesy of Dave Budden