Welling United picked up their first points of the season as Greg Cundle’s late strike sealed a 2-1 victory over Chichester City at Oaklands Park on Saturday afternoon.
Ruben Shakpoke’s first-half strike put the Wings in front, before the hosts found a 60th-minute leveller. But Cundle was on hand to plunder an 89th-minute winner to kick off the busy bank holiday weekend of football in style.
The visitors impressed during the first half and had the first sight of goal after four minutes when Shakpoke was played through, but his poked effort was collected by the keeper.
Cundle came close with a dipping volley from distance which bounced just wide, while Chichester threatened at the other end on the half-hour mark when they struck the post with a header following a corner.
Moments later, Welling took a deserved lead with Shakpoke bagging his second goal of the season. After latching on to a neat through-ball, he kept his cool and slotted home for 1-0.
It nearly got even better for the Wings and Shakpoke five minutes before the break, but the striker was denied by thee crossbar, when he got a knee on the end of Aaron Williams-Bushell’s teasing cross from the right.
Chichester came out for the second period with some purpose as they went in search of an equaliser and they got it on the hour.
Welling failed to deal with a ball in from the right-hand side and could not clear their lines as the hosts had a a couple of bites of the cherry, before Lloyd Rowlatt slammed home from close range.
The visitors weren’t quite proving to be the threat in the final third that they were in the first 45, although John Ufuah forced the goalkeeper into a smart stop from the edge of the box.
Chichester were looking to complete a turnaround and came close to a second when Freddie Norman had his pocket picked on the edge of the box, leaving his goal exposed – luckily Jack Paxman was on hand to clear off the line.
It looked as if the game may be heading for a share of the spoils, but the Wings, and Cundle, had other ideas.
Superb work from Ufuah down the left sent Welling away as he burst into the box and squaring for Cundle who was lying in wait. The Wings number 15 picked his spot and firmly fired into the back of the net to send the healthy band of travelling supporters into raptures and secure his side’s first victory of the season.
Lee Martin’s men return to action in fast fashion as they host Cray Valley (PM) in DA16 on Monday afternoon.
Chichester City: Magee, Davidson, Hutchings, Moore, Da Costa, Pashley, Clarke, Dunn, Vigar, Rowlatt, Bello.
Subs: Rustell, Martin, Prichard, Woolston, Bennetts.
Booked: Da Costa 44 (foul on Ufuah), Davidson 47 (foul on Sinai), Clarke 90 (dissent)
Goal: Rowlatt 60
Welling United: Norman, Williams-Bushell, Majoyegbe, Dobbs, Dyer, Penn (Antonio 83), Paxman, Cundle, Sinai, Ufuah, Shakpoke (Holley 70).
Subs (not used): Huk, Simmons.
Booked: Paxman 58 (foul), Dyer 87 (foul)
Goals: Shakpoke 31, Cundle 89
Attendance: TBC
