Welling United claimed three big points with a 2-1 win at Ramsgate on Tuesday evening.
After falling behind early on in what turned out to be an incident-filled encounter, the Wings hit back with goals from John Ufuah and Logan Dobbs either side of the break, before three red cards were brandished – two for the hosts and one for Rod Stringer’s men, who held on to claim a well-deserved win on the Kent coast.
The first half was an action-packed affair with plenty of chances at both ends. Ryan Kingsford sent a shot just wide of the post from the edge of the box early on for the hosts, while Tom Leahy drew a good save from Aiden Prall when hot himself into a good position in the box.
On 19 minutes, Ramsgate took the lead via the prolific Joe Taylor – his shot taking a slight deflection off a Welling boot which took it in off the post.
The Wings, however, responded almost immediately and drew themselves level just two minutes later via the in-form Ufuah.
Good work from Leahy saw the forward put a dangerous ball into the box which was cleared as far as Ufuah, who made no mistake in placing a low shot into the bottom corner to make it 1-1.
Moments later, Welling had a glorious chance to take the lead when Femi Akinwande threaded through an excellent pass to leave Greg Cundle one-on-one, but he was denied by Prall.
The action continued apace into the second half with Ufuah and Alfie Paxman coming close at each end, before Akinwande came inches away from turning the ball in from close range when a Rams boot nicked it off him at the last second.
But from the resulting corner, the visitors would finally go ahead. An initial shot was well blocked in a crowded box, but Dobbs was on hand to turn it home for 2-1.
More drama was to come in the form of a flurry of red cards – first, Ramsgate’s Tom Clifford was dismissed for a second bookable-offence, leaving the hosts to carry on with 10 men.
Four minutes later, there were two more reds brandished after a coming together between Dobbs and Binnom-Williams sparked a large-scale ‘brawl’ resulting in the instigators being given their marching orders.
With the 10 men now defending their lead against nine, it was a case of Welling keeping their heads to preserve the precious three points they had in their possession. Indeed, they did just that, putting bodies on the line to keep Ramsgate’s chances in front of goal at a premium and play their way to victory.
Next up is a trip to St Albans City on Saturday.
Ramsgate: Prall, Brown, Clifford, Bioletti, May, Kingsford, Paxman, Binnom-Williams, Munday, Jadama, Taylor.
Subs: Barnes, Mundele, Gard, Garrett, Todd.
Booked: Paxman 17 (dissent), May 45+3 (foul on Dobbs), Munday 72 (dissent), Jadama 90 (foul)
Sent off: Clifford 60 (second-bookable offence), Binnom-Williams 54 (violent conduct)
Goal: Taylor 19
Welling United: McKenzie-Lyle, O’Neill, Majoyegbe, Dobbs, Adjetey-Brew, Allen, Ebuzoeme, Cundle (McIntosh 86), Ufuah (Redfearn 81), Akinwande (Shakpoke 74), Leahy (Williams-Bushell 67).
Subs (not used): Norman.
Booked: O’Neill 24 (foul), McKenzie-Lyle 87 (time wasting), Bushell-Williams 90+10 (foul)
Sent off: Dobbs 64 (violent conduct)
Goals: Ufuah 21, Dobbs 58
Referee: Simon Cutler
Att: 956
