Welling United kicked off their pre-season in front of supporters with an entertaining test against Tonbridge Angels at Longmead Stadium on Tuesday evening, with the home side earning a 4-2 victory.
A bright start saw Tom Leahy curl an angled effort just past the post with just three minutes on the clock, but it was the hosts who took the lead on 10 minutes when one of the Angels’ trialists finished from close range.
Midway through the first period, Welling were denied by a quite simply ridiculous string of saves from home stopper Jacob Adams, who pulled off a stunning triple save to somehow keep out both Greg Cundle and James Dyer in quick succession.
Just before the half-hour mark, however, the Wings did get their goal – Ruben Shakpoke pouncing on a sloppy defensive pass to slot home an equaliser.
Parity would not last long, however, with the same home trialist putting his side Bach ahead on 32 minutes.
The visitors came close to another leveller shortly after when Henry Sinai saw a good -looking effort from the edge of the box deflect inches over the bar, while Lekan Majoyegbe headed just over from the resulting corner.
But five minutes before the break, Tonbridge would add a third, once again through the trialist wearing number 15, who completed his hat-trick by poking delicately past Slavomir Huk in the Wings goal for 3-1.
The second half saw the usual pre-season substitutions which disrupted the flow of the game somewhat, although Lee Martin’s men pulled another one back just after the hour when Sinai hit the back of the net with a well-struck effort.
With 17 minutes remaining, the hosts added a fourth through former Bromley tyoungster Marcus Sablier, who finished with an angled drive.
All in all, it was a good workout for Welling who head to Fisher for their next friendly test on Saturday.
Welling United: Huk (West-Astuti 46), O’Neill (Wilhelm 60), Trialist A (Bloom 60), Majoyegbe (Vaughan 60), Sinai, J Leahy (Lewis 60), T Leahy (Trialist B 27), Cundle (Trialist C 60), Shakpoke (Ufuah 40), Dyer (Carvalho 46), Paxman (Trialist D 60).
Goals: Shakpoke 29, Sinai 62
Att: 340
(Photo: Kieran North)
