Welling leave it late but points are in the bag

Nationwide Conference South

THERE could not have been a long fingernail in the house after a nerve-wracking 90 minutes at Stonebridge Road.

Wings fans had to wait until the 86th minute for Danny Kedwell's strike to seal three vital, and extremely hard-fought, points and lift them to third in the table.

Throughout the game Welling looked tired after their hectic schedule of games and the last thing they needed was a nippy, direct and fast opponent getting under their feet.

But that is exactly what Cambridge City did and they caused the biggest mass nibbling of fingernails seen in Northfleet for a long time until, that is, the Wings leading goalscorer stepped up.

Adiran Pennock made two changes from the side which beat Farnborough by the same scoreline on Monday.

Leon Solomon failed a late fitness test so Des Boateng deputised at left back while Jamie Day began a two-match suspension, Steve Harper took the skipper's place.

Richard Carpenter was back on the bench as was number two goalkeeper Paul Hyde.

Chances were even in the opening minutes with Steve Perkins firing over from 10 yards and Cambridge's Michael Gash headed wide from a good position.

Jamie Turner with the Wings gloves was called into attack to snuff out Greg Lincoln's scuffed shot before Joe Bruce and Kedwell had fierce shots blocked.

On 26 minutes right-back Bruce was exposed with a simple ball down the channel but Lincoln wasted a clear run on goal by curling a tame effort wide.

Pennock made a change on 29 minute replacing the struggling Harper with Hector Mackie - subsequently Perkins moved into a front three while Mark Goodfellow dropped from midfield into the back three.

The visitors came closest to breaking the deadlock on 32 minutes but Turner pulled off a marvellous close range save to turn Charlie Henry's over-head kick onto the top of the crossbar.

Spurred on, Welling finally tested the Cambridge keeper on 34 minutes - Mackie won the ball in midfield and fired a low shot from 30 yards which needed to be pushed wide.

The youngster then blotted his copybook by picking up a yellow card for kicking the ball away.

He was followed into the book by Cambridge's Lincoln for a foul on Ellis Green.

Welling's final chance of the half came off Green's corner which was narrowly glanced wide by Ben Lewis.

But Cambridge could have gone into the break ahead when Henry skinned Boateng, not for the first time, but his angled shot was pushed away by Turner.

After the interval, Cambridge seemed to tire rapidly and Welling started to dominate possession while not created any clearcut chances.

The visitors last really chance came on 51 minutes via a goalmouth scramble which Turner eventually scooped up to safety.

On 57 minutes Welling were denied a good shout for a penalty when Mark E'Bayer caught Lewis thigh-high just inside the area.

The referee waved appeals away much to the consternation of the Welling bench, especially Phil Handford who almost raced onto the pitch to remonstrate with the referee.

A double Welling change followed with Carpenter and Sam Tucknott replacing Martin Carthy and Green respectively.

On 67 minutes Bruce was booked for foulinf Lincoln as the pressure of the occasion got to all the players.

The pressure boiled over when Lewis was adjudged, by the visiting defence, to have gone in late on the keeper.

A melee ensued which ended with Lewis and Cambridge's Glen Fuff being booked.

Mackie and Tucknott were causing problems with direct runs from midfield and one led to Kedwell's turn and shot which was saved well by Danny Naisbitt for a corner.

From the partially cleared flag kick Carpenter returned the ball into the penalty where Kedwell, with his back to goal, hooked the ball over the advancing keeper.

As it dropped beneath the bar and rippled down the back of the net, the fans and players erupted with ecstatic celebrations and even Turner ran half the length of the field to join in the celebrations.

The final minutes caused little concern and Tucknott even went close to making it 2-0 but was beaten to Kedwell's low centre.

At the final whistle, the importance of the points became apparent as next up are league leaders and champions elect Histon.

MATCH FACTS:

WELLING UNITED: Turner, Bruce, Lewis, Perkins, Moore, Boateng, Goodfellow, Green (Tucknott, 59), Carthy (Carpenter, 59), Kedwell, Harper (Mackie, 29).

SUBS NOT USED: Hyde, Rowland.

ATT: 287.