Welling United 2-0 East Thurrock United - I can't get my head around being so flat - Ford

Saturday 26th September 2009

WELLING UNITED 2-0 EAST THURROCK UNITED
FA Cup (Sponsored by E.ON) Second Qualifying Round
Saturday 26th September 2009
Paul Parkinson reports from Park View Road

TWO Tommy Whitnell goals in three second half minutes sealed this FA Cup Second Qualifying Round tie for Welling United, allowing Andy Ford‘s side to see off a spirited East Thurrock United, a high-flying side in Ryman League Division One North.

Ford, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk openly admitted afterwards, “I think the substitutions made a bit of a difference, I had to liven it up and made some early decisions there. Adrian Stone made a difference up front; gave us an aerial strength that we‘ve been missing all year, so I was pleased with him.

“But other than that, I thought it was a lacklustre performance. I thought Tommy (Whitnell) was a bit sluggish today, but then he comes up with the two goals. They were typical goalscorer‘s goals; a tap in, then a chest trap and volley.”

The Wings were quick out of the blocks in both halves, but credit was due to East Thurrock (30 places below Welling in the pyramid), that the home side was never able to dominate to any extent. And, with memories of last year‘s exit to Whyteleafe fresh in many spectators‘ memories, you always felt the first goal would be crucial.

Although Whitnell had an early chance, after 5 minutes; turning James Donovan on the edge of the box, the former Tonbridge Angels’ defender was able to make a sliding block on Whitnell‘s shot for the first corner of the game.

From this, East Thurrock broke and as Welling struggled to clear the ball, Steve Harrison lobbed the ball back into the box, where Ben Boyce‘s weak shot was fumbled by a relieved Charlie Mitten, who saw the ball run through his legs and off the outside of the post.

On 14 minutes, Donovan was left in acres of space from a Ryan Sammons free-kick, but could connect properly and his header bounced into Mitten‘s arms.

This served to wake Welling up. Andy Sambrook, Tony Finn, Whitnell and Lee Blackburn all had chances to open the scoring, but all failed to trouble Richard Wray with some wayward shooting.

The two half-time changes seemed to inspire the home side, and Wray was forced to turn away a Stone header from under his bar, then he denied a powerful Whitnell header from 8 yards with a full-length save.

East Thurrock reminded the 404 present that they still carried a threat on 49 minutes, when Chris Barry burst through the Wings‘ midfield, before driving a shot just over the bar from 25 yards.

But it was Welling who found the breakthrough on 74 minutes. A long Mitten clearance caused chaos in the Rocks‘ defence and Stone burst through, only to see his shot pushed away by Wray.

Whitnell retrieved the ball from the dead-ball line and laid it back for sub Michael Bakare, whose blocked shot fell kindly for Whitnell to poke home by the post.

Before the visitor‘s could respond, Whitnell scored again on 77 to seal the game.

A Sambrook free-kick found the former Cray Wanderers striker unmarked in the middle of the box and the striker had time to control the ball on his chest, before lashing his volley past Wray from 12 yards.

As the visitor‘s mounted a concerted effort to get back into the game, both Stone and Bakare had good chances when 1-on-1 with Wray, but disappointingly neither could find the finish their runs required.

Ford admitted afterwards, “It wasn‘t a very good game today. I thought the crowd was flat, we were flat. I can‘t get my head round that, everybody should be up for it (an FA Cup tie). We were in a no-win situation ; the fans expect us to win and we have.

“We‘re in the next round and that‘s all we‘ve got to worry about. It‘s more about the money (£4,500) from my point of view, so I‘ll take the lowest team at home (in the draw on Monday). We don‘t want anyone big, or above us. We just need to get some coppers in.

“We‘ve missed Graeme (Andrews), but I‘ve got a problem now for next week with Yado Mambo available again (his club, Charlton Athletic, didn‘t want him cup-tied) and Ryan Johnson will be back in the first team squad. But Crackers’ (Dean Cracknell) ankle had blown up today, so that‘s one in, one out.”

Welling United: Charlie Mitten, Andy Sambrook, Michael Deane, Dean Cracknell (Michael Bakare 60), Steve King, Graeme Andrews, Jake Hobbs, Lee Blackburn (Jack Parkinson 46), Tommy Whitnell, Tony Finn, Sam Hurrell (Adrian Stone 46).
Subs: Matt Bennett, Steffan Gaisie.

Goals: Tommy Whitnell 74, 77

Booked: Steve King 43

East Thurrock United: Richard Wray, Ryan Sammons, Chris Duffy, Ben Wood, James Donovan, Steve Harrison, Kye Ruel, Max Cornhill, Kurt Smith, Ben Boyce (Eddie Hart 78), Chris Barry.
Subs: Martin Llewellyn, Luke Dodd, Danny Greaves, Luke Hall, Steve Pashley, Kris Newby.

Booked: Chris Barry 76

Attendance: 404
Referee: Mr Nigel Lugg (Chipstead, Surrey)
Assistants: Mr John Ryan (Worcester Park, Surrey) and Mr Stefan Malczewski (Ashtead, Surrey)