Sutton United 1-2 Welling United - We have to get both feet through the door, says Jamie Day

SUTTON UNITED 1-2  WELLING UNITED
Blue Square Bet South Play-Off Semi-Final First Leg
Wednesday 2 May 2012
Stephen McCartney reports from Gander Green Lane

WELLING UNITED player-manager Jamie Day says his side were not celebrating their comfortable 2-1 victory away to Sutton United at the half-way point of their Blue Square Bet (Conference) South play-off.


 

The Wings go into next Sunday’s second-leg showdown at Park View Road with the advantage after putting in a solid performance at Gander Green Lane tonight.

They lead through Lee Clarke’s 25^th minute diving header, but Sutton United clawed themselves back into the game when the quiet Craig Watkins put in a low centre in the 66^th minute which deflected off Welling United defender Jack Parkinson and then goalkeeper Craig Holloway, who was credited with an own goal by the dubious goals panel.

But around 400 travelling supporters went home proud when Joe Healy flicked home a deserved winner just seven minutes later to keep the lucrative winner-takes-all Kent showdown against Dartford on the cards at Princes Park on Sunday, 13 May.

Runners-up Dartford came away from in-form Basingstoke Town with a 1-0 victory, courtesy of Lee Noble’s goal on the stroke of half-time.

When asked whether it’s advantage Welling, Day replied, “I think so!  I thought first half an hour we played really well, some really good football and in fairness deserved to go one-up.  Then I was disappointed we let a goal in, but they had a go to be fair.

“In the second half they had a good spell for 15-20 minutes without really threatening but obviously that leads to the goal from them, which I’m disappointed about.  I felt we could’ve dealt better with that but in fairness to Hollers (Holloway) he’s pulled off a great save as well.

“All credit to the boys as well. We’ve responded within five minutes and took the lead. 

“A little backs against the wall towards the end but I felt we were comfortable and we’re looking forward to Sunday.”

Sutton United rarely threatened, which was a disappointment to the home fans in the crowd of 1,255, but around 400 Welling supporters made the short trip across to Sutton and gave their heroes excellent vocal support.

The Welling fans were all housed underneath one roof during the first half, but the noise coming from two sections of the ground during the second half was immense.

Day said: “Brilliant!  It helps the boys’ out when you can hear our fans cheering and the boys’ really appreciate that and hopefully we can get a decent crowd on Sunday and get the job complete and move on to the final.”

Paul Doswell’s side created a chance inside the opening thirteen minutes when Harry Beautyman drove over a right-wing corner with his right foot and defender Sam Page flicked the ball on across goal at the near post and Simon Downer’s effort was blocked.

Welling United immediately created their first chance of a good night for the Kent club.

Loui Fazakerley’s free-kick from inside their own half was flicked on by central defender Ben Martin and the ball was nodded on towards goal by Loick Pires and Sutton keeper Kevin Scriven easily gathered.

The opening fifteen minutes was a tight affair as both sides didn’t want to give anything away.

The best chance fell to Welling United in the 20^th minute when Scriven made a fine diving save to his left to prevent Pires’ scoring with a stroked left-footed curling free-kick from 28-yards, which was destined to find the bottom right-hand corner.

Sutton United really should have drew first blood when the impressive Craig Dundas – a powerful presence in the middle of the park- released former Gillingham striker Stefan Payne through on goal and the one-time former Bromley youngster lashed a right-footed drive over the top of the near post from sixteen-yards, shooting from inside the corner of the penalty area.

Welling United drew first blood, however, when Clarke finished off an excellent seven-man passing move.

There didn’t appear to be any danger when the blue shirted Welling players passed the ball around the middle third of the pitch, but Fazakerley played the ball inside to Dean Cracknell, who floated an inch-perfect cross into the penalty area with his right-foot and Clarke ghosted into the box, beating his marker and sent a diving downward header bouncing past Scriven and into far corner from ten-yards.

Day said: “First half-an-hour I thought we played extremely well and deserved to score early.  It was a good goal, great run, great ball, great finish and fully deserved in my opinion and obviously pleasing.”

Stunned Sutton should have done better two minutes before the break but left-back Paul Telfer drove a right-footed free-kick high over the crossbar from 35-yards.

Then moments later, a long kick up field from Holloway saw Healy cut inside his marker before whipping in a good cross with his left-foot to find Luis Cumbers at the far post and his header was blocked by Telfer.

Welling United walked off the pitch knowing they were in a comfortable position and when asked what he told his team-mates during the interval, Day said: “We just said keep going.   We knew Sutton were going to have a go, they needed to have a go because they’re at home so first half I was really pleased.  We played some really good football.

“Second half, we expected them to have a go and they did.  I thought at times we played really well and we countered attack for the (second) goal, which was pleasing.”

Doswell must have given his Sutton United side inspiration during the interval as they came out with much more desire and Dundas cracked a right-footed volley into Holloway’s arms from 35-yards after just 70 seconds.

In fact the former Croydon and Dulwich Hamlet midfielder appeared to be the only player capable of breaking Welling United’s resilience.

Day said: “He’s a big, strong lad. Once he gets going he’s tough to peg him back, but again most of their chances came from long-range so we’re pleased.”

Fazakerley’s right-footed cross from the right was knocked down by Cracknell and Clarke’s left-footed drive sailed over the Sutton crossbar from 35-yards, before the frustrated home fans thought they had equalised when former Welling midfielder Anthony Riviere clipped a right-footed shot just wide of the right-post from just inside the penalty area.

Holloway made a world-class save in the 65^th minute.  Dundas precise diagonal pass found Boateng, who cut in and unleashed a left-footed drive from 25-yards, but the former Bromley keeper, who was going to his left, adjusted his body to his right to tip the shot around the post.

But only 77 seconds later, Holloway had played his part in Sutton United grabbing an fortuitous equaliser.

Watkins, who has scored 22 goals this season, was kept very quiet by Jack Obersteller and Ben Martin, until this occasion when the number ten cut inside Obersteller and played in a low centre, which struck Parkinson’s foot and also hit the wrong-footed Holloway and the ball rolled agonisingly into the bottom far corner.

“I think it wasn’t defended well enough in the first place to stop the cross,” said a disappointed Day.

“Maybe a lack of concentration from Jack, Hollers and it’s come off Jack’s foot and hits Craig and gone in so obviously delighted to concede an own-goal, but credit to the boys’, they responded and they’ve got the winner.”

But Day was delighted that his side recovered from that set-back as they restored their lead in the 73^rd minute.

Full marks must go to striker Pires, who picked the ball up from Cumbers’ pass on the halfway line and he sped down the right channel into the penalty area and he swept over a low cross with his right-foot and Healy, who had sprinted into the penalty area and flicked a first time shot into the bottom left-hand corner with his left-foot.

Day said: “Exactly what Loick can do!  Great little touch, great turn and opened up and we know he’s got massive amounts of quality.  A good run from Joe Healy and a great response from the boys and pleasing to get a 2-1 lead.”

Welling United were the happy to sit back for the remainder of the game.

Boateng, who impressed with his runs forward from his right-back slot, put in another fine delivery to pick out Romone McCrae, but the Sutton substitute striker stabbed his shot into Holloway’s gloves at the near post.

Welling United received a hint of good fortune in the second of six minutes of time added on when Dundas’ effort from the edge of the box took a deflection and looped wide.

Plenty of Welling fans left West Sutton on the last train back to London Bridge (22:15) proud of their players of a good job well done – but Day knows it’s only half done.

“We haven’t won anything,” he reminded the Welling faithful.

“We’ve won tonight, but we’re not celebrating.  There’s nothing to celebrate about. We’ve got a job on Sunday.  We’ll train again on Friday and get everyone’s head right and hopefully we can finish off the job.”

Welling United have lost just one league game on home soil, but league form goes out of the window at this stage of the season.

But the Wings would settle for the same goal-less scoreline when the two sides last met at Park View Road in March.

Day said:  “We’ve knocked on the door.  We have to get both feet in and grind out a result on Sunday.”

Sutton United: Kevin Scriven, Michael Boateng, Paul Telfer, Craig Dundas, Simon Downer, Sam Page, Anthony Riviere, Craig Watkins, Leroy Griffiths (Bradley Woods-Garness 78), Harry Beautyman, Stefan Payne (Romone McCrae 71).
Subs: Tony Taggart, Lewis Hunt, Kyle Vassell

Goal:  Craig Holloway 66 (own goal)

Booked: Craig Dundas 59

Welling United: Craig Holloway, Loui Fazakerley (Andy Sambrook 86), Jack Obersteller, Jamie Day, Ben Martin, Jack Parkinson, Dean Cracknell, Lee Clarke, Luis Cumbers (Harry Baker 75), Joe Healy, Loick Pires.
Subs: Scott Kinch, Anthony Acheampong, Jamie Turner

Goals: Lee Clarke 25, Joe Healy 73

Attendance:  1,255
Referee: Mr Colin Lymer (Basingstoke, Hampshire)
Assistants: Mr Jason Richardson (Pinner, Middlesex) & Mr Chris Evans (Ealing, London W13)
Fourth Official: Mr Dean Treleaven (Chichester, West Sussex)