It's nice that the lads' can match themselves against League players, says Welling coach Dean Frost

WELLING UNITED coach Dean Frost says it’s nice to welcome back Gillingham into the Kent Senior Cup after a long absence, writes Stephen McCartney.


The Wings, who climbed into second place in the Blue Square Bet South table following their comfortable 3-2 win over Dorchester Town at Park View Road, welcome Andy Hessenthaler’s League Two outfit to Park View Road on Monday night.

Kent County Football Association chief executive Paul Dolan has enticed Gillingham and Charlton Athletic back into the competition, although the two professional outfits could meet each other in the final if they get past their non-league counterparts.

“It’s the first year where Gillingham and Charlton are back in the competition so we’ve been drawn against Gillingham,” said Frost.

“It’s nice to play against a League club, rather than a friendly we have something where you can get reward.

“It’s nice that the lads’ can match themselves against some league players and see where they are at as individuals and see where we are as a team.”

Frost said the second round clash will contain numerous first team players, with only of a couple of youngsters taking their place on the Welling bench.

He said: “We have got a small squad, it’s a little bigger than what we had last year because of the (transfer) embargo.

“The lads’ that never played on Saturday will definitely start and the rest of the side will be first team players.

“Whatever we put out will be a strong side and a side that we think can get a result.

“The bench maybe made up of a couple of youth team players.  Everybody who turns up (to watch the game) will see a first team player on that pitch tomorrow night.

“If anyone will turn up thinking they’re going to watch a team of reserves and youth team players they’ve never seen will be wrong!  The fans’ will see a team of players’ they see on a regular basis.”

Welling United, who were knocked out of The FA Cup by their league rivals Bromley two weeks ago, took advantage of being one of only four teams playing league fixtures yesterday by beating Dorchester Town 3-2.

Frost said: “Obviously Woking were in The FA Cup, we were three points behind, so that game was vitally important to make sure that we got three points and not allow the extra game that Woking had to get a lead on us, so it was vitally important.  It was important to get a win as we haven’t had a win for the last two or three weeks so that was vitally important too.

Player-manager Jamie Day got the Wings off to a good start, taking the lead with a free-kick after just eleven minutes, and further goals were added by Andy Pugh and Loick Pires.

Former Gillingham striker Pugh has scored 11 goals so far this season and Pires has chipped in with six, although third striker, Luis Cumbers has scored a couple.

“It was a very good free-kick that went in at about ten miles per hour but we’ll take them, in off the post, but he works on them during the week with his (Academy) lads, so he’s a bit of a specialist and he will score his fair share from that range,” said Frost.

“It was important to get an early goal, just a bit disappointed to concede the two penalties.  A poor decision from the referee but we have to take that. 

“We bounced back and got a goal (from Pugh) just before half-time and that set us on our way.

“We conceded another penalty with about eight minutes to go, made us hang on a little bit, probably maybe made the scoreline a bit flattering for them than it did for us.

“It was probably their only two shots that they had in the game. 

“We spoke after the game about the penalties we conceded.  The first one wasn’t a penalty in our opinion, it was clear Loui Fazakerley won the ball.  The second one was a penalty.

“We spoke to Dan (Thomas) after the game and asked him how many shots he had to make.  We were quite sure he had no other shots to save, I don’t think they even had another shot off target so that was pleasing.”

Giving away penalties is something that is causing a concern to the management team at Welling at present.

Frost knows the solution, saying, “It’s something that we have to work on, just more concentrating and switching on for 90 minutes and stay on our feet in the box.  It’s a running thing at the moment that we keep giving penalties away. Hopefully it will stop and we keep on at the lads. 

“The most important thing, we got the win!”

With such a quality strike force, Frost though, wants more players to chip in with goals.

“All the strikers’ will have a target what they want and I think Luis and Loick are certainly very pleased with their return on goals at the moment.  I think Pughy is well ahead with what he wants.

“Maybe it’s time for a few of the other players’ to weigh in with a few goals rather than rely on those two.  Every striker wants to score goals.  I’m sure they’re mightily pleased how it’s going as individuals.

“Going back, it’s an old cliché, but the most important thing was we got a win, we don’t really care who scores the goals!”

Welling United are now level on points with Woking at the summit, aided by an unbeaten record of five wins and two draws at Park View Road.

“It is important, we want to make our ground a bit of a fortress and make it hard for teams to come and get a result so we’re definitely pleased with that and hope it continues.”

Visit Welling United's website: www.wellingunited.com

Welling United  v  Gillingham
Kent Senior Cup Sponsored by Portablefloodlights.com Second Round
Monday 17^th October 2011
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Park View Road, Welling, Kent DA16 1SY