DESPITE their off the field problems Welling United visited big spending Dover Athletic and were probably entitled to feel disappointed in having to settle for a draw .
Martin Hayes’ Dover certainly started the stronger but after the Wings had equalised they looked the more likely to win.
Jon Wallis struck well wide early on and ex Welling midfielder Luke I’Anson netted long after the whistle had sounded for offside.
Jack Parkinson, playing in midfield, set up the visitors’ first opening but Luis Cumbers was forced away at the cost of a corner.
When I’Anson miss-controlled in midfield the ball fell kindly to Harry Baker. His cross found Elliott Charles and although the centre forward’s effort was beaten out by Charlie Mitten, I’Anson was on hand to put Dover ahead.
Charles had a shot well saved by Mitten but Welling struck back in the 41st minute.
Joe Healy cut in from the left wing and after going past a couple of challenges, played a one-two with Andy Pugh before passing beyond Ross Flitney into the bottom corner of the net.
Matt Fish limped off to be replaced by Kane Rice, a Welling triallist during pre-season, but the Wings finished the half strongly with Pugh and Cumbers both going close.
Welling continued where they had left off after the break and Cumbers had a shot saved before a Loui Fazakerley first time attempt went wide following a Flitney faux-pas in attempting to clear the ball.
Fazakerley’s hold up play set up the chance for Welling to go ahead when he laid the ball back to Pugh to score with a delightful curler from outside the penalty area.
The Wings were rarely troubled at the back and came close to extending their lead as Fazakerley’s cross was headed at Flitney by Parkinson although he may have had more success had he headed back across the goal with the Dover defence again in disarray.
Dover’s equaliser on 77 minutes will not have pleased the Wings’ management team.
Ex Gillingham defender Tom Wynter was allowed to run unopposed down the left wing and his long range effort was fumbled by Mitten into the path of Adam Birchall who made no mistake with the goal at his mercy.
Neither side truly looked like scoring again and both had to settle for a point.
As the players disappeared through the tunnel at the end, Mitten showed his annoyance by hurling his goalkeeper gloves into the crowd.
Welling United: Mitten, Coyle, Obersteller, Day, Andrews, Parkinson, Fazakerley, Sambrook, Cumbers, Pugh, Healy (Omegbehin 78). Unused substitutes Whitnell, Billings, Johnson.
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