Welling United 3 Tonbridge Angels 2
by Glenn Pearson
Tonbridge boss Tommy Warrilow described his side's display as "flat" as they limped out of the FA Trophy in a Kent derby at Welling's Park View Road ground.
With a place in the first round proper up for grabs, the Angels, who play in a division below their opponents, were up against it when they found themselves two goals down after 36 minutes.
Warrilow was incensed with the way his side gave the Wings the advantage on 19 minutes, when a long kick from Welling goalkeeper Charlie Mitten was allowed to bounce right between the Angels' defence, where loan striker Andy Pugh beat Marc Cumberbatch to the ball before lashing a drive past Lee Worgan.
The Blue Square South side extended their lead 17 minutes later when another long ball caught the Tonbridge defence napping, allowing Welling striker Tommy Whitnell to nip in and lob the onrushing Worgan.
The visitors were thrown a lifeline four minutes before the half-time break when Jack Parkinson handled a Lee Minshull header in the area, and Tonbridge's top scorer, Carl Rook, fired his spot kick low past Mitten's despairing dive.
The Ryman Premier side enjoyed greater possession in the second period without turning any of it into chances, although they had one guilt edged opportunity that Jamie Cade managed to smash over the bar from six yards out.
The visitors were made to pay when some slack defending allowed Whitnell to run through on goal and slam past Worgan and restore Welling's two-goal advantage on 76 minutes.
Again Tonbridge huffed and puffed without the desired result, although Rook scored a consolation goal with virtually the last kick of the game as he beat Mitten to a 50/50 to smash the ball home.
Warrilow was unhappy with the manner of the defeat and said several of his players will find themselves out of the team for Tuesday's trip to Canvey Island as a result.
"I thought it was very flat out there and I don't think there was a great deal of urgency," he said. "I thought the first-half we were the better team but were 2-0 down. In the end we have gifted them three goals, and you just can't do that.
"I don't think there was a big gap between the two sides, but we find ourselves out of the FA Trophy. That's really hurt me, I don't know whether it's hurt that many people, but it has me - we were sloppy and I'm fuming with the way we gave the goals away.
"We go to Canvey on Tuesday and we need a win to get us back on track.
"We have two or three to come back and I said to the players in the dressing room that if they find themselves out of the side, they need to think about what they have done in this game."
Welling: Mitten, Sambrook, Andrews, Hurrell, Deane, Parkinson, Johnson, Fazakerley, Finn, Pugh, Whitnell (Hobbs, 80).
Tonbridge: Worgan, Hamilton, Minshull, Cumberbatch, Heath (Sigere, 77), Cade, Storey, Watts, Booth, Rook, Baker (Gooding 54).
POSTED: 22/11/2009 19:20:12
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