In record high August Bank Holiday Monday temperatures, the Kent derby between Welling United and Tonbridge Angels was a huge test of fitness as well as ability.
At four-one up, Welling should have seen the game out in comfort but when D’Sean Theobalds pulled one back, Tonbridge threw really went for it and the hosts had to dig deep to claim the win.
It wasn’t easy, but ultimately the team with the higher quality claimed the three points.
An early Adam Coombes free kick was punched away by Jonathan Henly at full stretch before Adam Yusuff made a chance for himself but shot straight at Dan Wilks.
After a good crisp Welling movement, Anthony Cook was thwarted by Henly’s tip over before Gavin McCallum headed over a Cook free kick.
Referee Isaac Searle collapsed but after prolonged treatment he was able to continue. The players took advantage by taking a drink break.
Soon after the players resumed, Welling went ahead. Coombes dispossessed Sonny Miles and picked out Bradley Goldberg who drew out Henly and fired home.
Goldberg then doubled his and Welling’s tally with his third of the Bank Holiday weekend and an early contender for goal of the season. Cook found him on the edge of the penalty area and he turned to create space before firing into the top corner.
However, Tonbridge pulled one back two minutes before the end of regulation first half time. A free kick was not cleared and Rob Swaine could only head across the face of goal where Yusuff showed good reactions to head home.
If the Angels had held the lead into the break it would have given themselves something to build upon but Welling restored their two goal lead in injury time. Cook slung over a deep free kick and McCallum stole in to finish at the far post.
There was still time for controversy when Coombes went down in the penalty area but the referee booked him for simulation.
Henly fumbled a Cook cross-shot after the break but recovered just in time before Montel Agyemang found Coombes but Henly again came to the rescue when turning his shot around the post.
Wilks then picked up a passed back drop ball but Tonbridge were unable to capitalise on the close range indirect free kick.
Yusuff fired a free kick over before Welling took advantage of another defensive error. James Folkes dithered just inside the Welling half and Cook dispossessed him before racing half the length of the pitch and blasting home.
Jared Small shot over for the Angels before Welling substitutes Josh Oyinsan and Aaron Cosgrave both came close but were thwarted by Henly.
Clever footwork allowed D’Sean Theobalds to get a shot away that went wide before Henly did well to hold a close range Oyinsan shot.
Joseph Turner curled a shot beyond the far post before Theobalds gave the Angels a glimmer of hope when scoring with eight minutes remaining.
Had Alex Bentley’s shot not gone wide a few minutes later it might have brought about a grandstand finish but it was Henly who made the final save when tipping Cosgrave’s shot round the post.
Welling United: Wilks, Ming, Anderson, Prestedge, Swaine, Rich-Baghuelou, Cook (Cosgrave 69), Agyemang, Goldberg, Coombes (Oyinsan 69), McCallum (Green 65). Unused subs: Okosieme, Rooney.
Goalscorers: Goldberg (26) (34), McCallum (45+), Cook (62).
Yellow cards: Anderson, Coombes, Swaine
Tonbridge Angels: Henly, Folkes (Derry 65), Parter, Brewer (Small 51), Miles, Bray, Da Costa (Bentley 65), Theobalds, Yusuff, Hession-Harris, Turner. Unused subs: McKenzie, Roberts.
Goalscorers: Yusuff (42), Theobalds (82)
Yellow cards: None
Referee: Isaac Searle
Assistants: Marc Meeten and Paul Stratton
Attendance: 669