First Team
National League South Tue 26 November J Hearnden Skip Hire Community Stadium
Welling Utd
2
Tonbridge Angels
2
2-2

Welling United shared the spoils with Tonbridge Angels from a 2-2 draw at Park View Road on Tuesday evening.

The Wings spurned a two-goal advantage after Alex Lankshear and Josh Redfearn had fired them in front before the break, but the visitors fired back in the second period, eventually levelling from a penalty which saw Garett Kelly dismissed and Welling down to 10 men.

The hosts made a bright start in the cold of DA16 and took a deserved lead with just 11 minutes on the clock from their first set-piece of the game after Paul Osew had worked heard to win a corner.

Sam Cornish’ pinpoint delivery from the left was met by the head of Lankshear, sending the ball into the net for 1-0.

It was very nearly two moments later when another corner caused problems for Tonbridge – with the ball dropping nicely to Jack Burchell, the defender tried to loop the ball under the bar, only for former Wing loanee Charlie Pegrum to head it clear.

On 19 minutes, however, Welling did have their second. The electric Chiori Johnson supplied the ball from the right which was met by the outstretched boot of Redfearn to dispatch his second goal in as many starts for the Wings, putting his side well in the driving seat.

Maxwell Statham sent a firm effort just wide from the edge of the box before the break, but the home side could be more than happy with their lot as they headed into half-time with a two-goal advantage.

The Angels emerged for the second half with a bit of purpose having introduced former Wings  men Taylor Maloney and Crossley Lema off the bench and Makise Evans hooked a shot over the bar from a good position early on.

Jack Burchell came even closer to a third for Welling at the other end, sending a side-footed volley bobbling just wide after a flick on from Sam Cornish’s free-kick.

Just before the hour mark, however, Tonbridge pulled one back via a free-kick from distance. Liam Vincent wound up for the shot and unleashed a low effort which wriggled in.

From there, the away side continued to push for a leveller, with Evans glancing a header just wide, before they were given a golden opportunity to equalise with 10 minutes to go with the referee awarding the Angels a penalty.

After Rhys Lovett had made an excellent save from a header, the referee adjudged Kelly to have pulled back a player chasing up the rebound, leading to his dismissal.

Vincent stepped up hoping to bag his brace and he did just that, sticking away his spot-kick into the bottom right-hand corner.

Lovett was called into action in the dying minutes as the 10 men continued to cling on and they would eventually settle for a point.

Welling return to action on Friday evening as they head across the Dartford crossing to Aveley.

Welling United: Lovett, Johnson, Burchell, Winfield, Lankshear, Osew, Cornish (Grant 86), Kelly, Kennedy (Wells 90+6), Redfearn (Chukwu 77).

Subs (not used): Long, Perkins.

Booked: Lankshear 59 (foul), Grant 90+4 (time wasting), Statham 90+4 (time wasting).

Sent off: Kelly 80 (denying goalscoring opportunity)

Goals: Lankshear 11, Redfearn 19

Tonbridge Angels: Rowley, Hanson (Maloney 46), Nelson, Dabre (Santos 61), Fielding, Vincent, Pegrum, Wagstaff (Date 79), Shields, Evans, Sutcliffe (Lema 46).

Subs (not used): Bakrin.

Goals: Vincent 59, 81 (pen)

Referee: Daniel Baines

Att: 503