Welling United claimed their place in semi-finals of the Kent Senior Cup with a 4-3 victory over Phoenix Sports on an entertaining evening at the Christopher Russell Stadium on Tuesday evening.
The Wings proved to be dominant in the first half, taking the lead with seven minutes on the clock through Josh Redfearn, who adjusted well to turn Maxwell Statham’s excellent cross home.
Welling continued to push, coming close through Elliot Long and Cameron Andrews, while Bramble hit the post with a good, low effort from distance and it wasn’t long before the midfielder got himself on the scoresheet.
In the 34th minute, TJ Bramble was set up by fellow goalscorer Redfearn in the box, teeing the ball up in the air with a great touch before dispatching a volley for 2-0.
The Wings were, perhaps, too comfortable going into the second half and rested on their laurels somewhat as the hosts, suddenly, found themselves firmly back in the game with two goals in three minutes, while the visitors found themselves down to 10 men.
Just after the hour, Bramble was adjudged to have handled a goalbound Phoenix shot, leaving the referee to reach for his red card and award a penalty.
Richard Pingling stepped up and put is spot-kick away and Welling were all of a sudden feeling vulnerable.
Indeed, their worst fears were realised moments later when the home side equalised – Deshane Dalling heading home from a free-kick delivery from the right.
With the game turned on its head, the Wings needed to pull up their bootstraps and find their way back into the game and they did just that thanks to a pair of penalties of their own.
First, Kwaku Donkor was felled by the goalkeeper, allowing Long to make it 3-2 from 12 yards on 69 minutes, before another was awarded six minutes later with Martell Taylor-Crossdale tripped in the box.
Long stepped up once again and made no mistake, stroking home to make it four.
Just when it appeared as if the visitors had re-steadied their ship, a bolt from the blue courtesy of Harvey Browne from distance reduced Phoenix’s arrears to just one goal, making for a nervy finish.
Welling maintained their lead, however, and with the referee’s whistle bringing to an end a topsy-turvy cup tie, they will now host either Bromley or Ebbsfleet United in the final four of the competition.
Phoenix Sports: Reascos, Campbell, Browne, Clarke (Grieveson 46), Quintyne (Brown 79), Pingling, Martin, Thompson, Elliott (Duah-Kessie 78), Dalling, Cheeseman (Turner 46).
Booked: Pingling 42 (dissent), Martin 67 (foul), Grievson 90+5 (unsporting behaviour)
Goals: Pingling (pen) 62, Dalling 65, Browne 81
Welling United: Poole, Statham, Burchell, Perkins, Nkwonta, Grant (Cornish 83), Bramble, Andrews, Donkor, Long, Redfearn (Taylor-Crossdale 62).
Subs (not used): Lankshear, Kennedy.
Booked: Grant (foul on Thompson), Burchell 90+5 (unsporting behaviour)
Sent-off: Bramble 61 (denying goalscoring opportunity)
Goals: Redfearn 7, Bramble 34, Long (pen) 69, 75 (pen)
Att: 160
