F.A. Cup football returns to Bexley Borough on Wednesday night with a Third Qualifying Round Replay between Welling United and Gosport Borough.

On Saturday, the two teams drew two all at Privett Park. Kain Adom gave the Wings the lead midway through the first half with an excellent shot into the top corner and they should probably have been more than one up at half time. However, a crazy nine minutes after the break turned the game on its head. Rafael Ramos and Dan Wooden took advantage of defensive errors to score either side of Adom being shown a second yellow card.

After that, Welling again enjoyed the better of things but struggled to break down an obstinate defence. They kept plugging away, though, and levelled in the seventh minute of stoppage time when Tristan Abrahams fired into the bottom corner.

To get this far, Gosport have seen off Laverstock & Ford followed by Cribbs whilst Welling came in a round later and won at Dartford in a thrilling local derby.

Although Welling play their football at a league step higher than their guests, the two teams have had different starts to the season. The Wings have won two, drawn two, and lost six leaving them third from bottom. Meanwhile, Gosport lead the Southern League South having won eight and drawn one of their ten games.

When Welling last hosted Gosport, it was in a National League South game in April 2017. The Wings cruised to victory scoring four times in twenty-three minutes after a goal-less first half. Pierre Joseph-Dubois scored twice in eight minutes then Alex Cathline added a nine minute brace.

Should Wednesday’s replay finish level after ninety minutes, extra time will be played and if there is no winner after that, there will be a penalty shoot-out. Whoever wins that will progress to the Fourth Qualifying Round and a visit to National League Boreham Wood.

Picture supplied by Dave Budden.