Welling United 2-1 Gillingham - I thought the boys' were absolutely fantastic, says Hessenthaler

WELLING UNITED  2-1  GILLINGHAM
Kent Senior Cup Sponsored by Portablefloodlights.com Second Round
Monday 17^th October 2011
Stephen McCartney reports from Park View Road

GILLINGHAM boss Andy Hessenthaler says he was proud of his youngsters after they were narrowly beaten by Welling United in the second round of the Kent Senior Cup.

The League Two club marked their long-awaited return to the competition after a thirteen-year exile, but despite taking a lead through Stefan Payne’s 52^nd minute penalty, Welling United booked their place into the quarter-finals courtesy of Lee Clarke’s penalty and a last-gasp Bradley Dack own goal, to prevent Hessenthaler returning to his former club Dover Athletic in the last eight.

“I thought the boys’ were absolutely fantastic tonight, I’m proud of them,” Hessenthaler said afterwards.

“Great for their development, obviously we didn’t want to lose the game, but it’s about how they develop, those young boys.  They’ve come tonight and worked their socks off.”

Welling United’s player-manager, Jamie Day, who got through a 90 minute shift said: “Obviously pleased it didn’t go to extra time!  It was a good run-out for the lads’ who needed 90 minutes.

“They were a young side, which was hungry and had a go.  Obviously it’s nice to win and get into the next round.”

Day hopes their quarter-final trip to their Blue Square Bet South rivals Dover Athletic is scheduled in at a time when he can play a similar strength side.

“We’ll have to see nearer the time what games we’ve got in the league,” he said.

“For me, the priority’s trying to get out of this division.  If at the time when we play Dover we haven’t got a game and we’ve got players’ that are fully fit then we’ll go with a strongish team.  If not, then we’ll worry about that when we get nearer to it.”

Hessenthaler fielded four players with limited first team experience this season, Argentine goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga, full-back Jack Evans, central defender Callum Davies and striker Payne.

Welling United, meanwhile, made six changes to the side that beat Dorchester Town 3-2 at Park View Road at the weekend, a result that saw them leapfrog over Dartford into second place in the Blue Square Bet South table, level on points with Woking.

Gillingham’s Argentine goalkeeper wasn’t troubled by Luis Cumbers’ right-footed drive from 25-yards, which flashed past the near post inside the opening five minutes of a disappointing first half.

With Welling United wearing their traditional red shirts, red shorts and white socks, Gillingham wore their third choice strip of all pink and a colour clash resulted in referee Ian Crouch asking Welling to change into their blue shirts out on the pitch in the 8^th minute, a quick change, which took only 56 seconds.

Gillingham skipper, Connor Essam, should have done better when Joe Carter’s driven free-kick fell at his feet at the far post, but the central defender allowed the ball to bounce off his feet to allow Welling’s debutant goalkeeper, Craig Ross, formerly of Carshalton Athletic, to gather.

Speaking about his new keeper, Day said: “Craig was at Carshalton.  We had a chat in the summer with him and we didn’t have enough money at the time.  He hasn’t got a club at the minute so he’s training with us for the last couple of weeks and I just wanted to have a look at him over 90 minutes and we’ll see what happens.

“John (Whitehouse) is still injured, he can still feel his knee.  He’s been doing a bit of kicking and been doing a bit of a warm-up but we need the pain to be gone totally and then I really need to get him out for a month to get some games to make sure he is match fit and he’s fine, on loan somewhere.

“Luckily we’ve got Dan (Thomas on loan from Bournemouth) until January so we’re not in a rush.  As much as we want John back, we know, and he knows that we can’t rush him back.  He’s at an older age now where we need to make sure things are right.”

The best chance of the first half came Gillingham’s way in the 27^th minute when following a quickly taken free-kick Nathan Nyaflii cracked a right-footed shot from 30-yards, which screamed past the near post.

There was a flashpoint in the 34^th minute involving Ashley Miller and Welling right-back Andy Sambrook, which resulted in Payne running over and pushing Sambrook to the ground.  Mr Crouch, however, decided against showing a red card and cautioned the pair.

Day said: “In fairness to Ian (Crouch), he probably used his head at  the right time for a couple of decisions because in league games we would’ve seen a different colour but I think in games like this we don’t want to see players’ get sent-off.

“I know there were a few tackles from both sides that we’re a little bit worse than yellow.   I’m pleased he’s been sensible and we’ve kept everyone on the pitch.

“Like I say, they’ve come out, they’re all young boys that wanted to impress Hess, wanted to do well and they had a good go.  They’re going to put tackles in.  I’ve got no problem with that.  They wanted to win the game.”

Welling went close to breaking the stalemate shortly afterwards as Day floated a free-kick into the penalty area and Gazzaniga failed to collect under pressure and the ball dropped to Jack Parkinson, who stabbed a right-footed shot towards goal, which was cleared off the line by Davies, who was one of two pink-shirted players on the goal-line.

Welling ended the first half on the front foot.

Joe Healy cut the ball back from the left and full-back Jordan Johnson stroked a poor shot across the visiting keeper and the ball trickled wide.

Sambrook then clipped the ball into the Gillingham penalty area where Cumbers took a touch before cracking a right-footed volley across the keeper, who got down swiftly and low to his right to make a smart save in the 42^nd minute.

Healy could have done better when he cut inside Evans and made space for himself inside the Gillingham penalty area, but his right-footed shot lacked any conviction and rolled into Gazzaniga’s gloves.

Whatever Hessenthaler said to his youngsters during the interval had the desired effect as they came out with much more purpose and should have taken the lead after exactly 60 seconds into the second half.

Jake Hessenthaler, who took all of their three corners, crossed with his left foot from the right and skipper Essam sent a diving header wide from penalty spot distance.

But Welling United’s problematic spell of conceding penalties in recent weeks returned as half-time substitute Jack Taylor clipped Miller inside the box and referee Mr Crouch pointed to the spot in the 52^nd minute.

Payne, who started at Bromley’s Academy, before joining foes Sutton United, where Gillingham picked him up, smashed the resulting right-footed penalty high into the roof of the net, sending Ross the wrong way.

Hessenthaler said: “There was nothing in the game was there, nothing at all.  I think we got the goal and we started to play with a bit more confidence.

“First half perhaps (we were) a little bit nervous, some of the young ones but yes, at 1-0 I thought we were the team to maybe go and get another one.”

Day was pleased with the way that right-back Taylor recovered from his early set-back.

He said: “I think he’s clipped him, for me it’s a penalty but I’m impressed with the way he’s still got on the ball and I thought he had a good half so that’s a pleasing point of me.

“I thought the other Jack (Kensington) who came on as well done extremely well in midfield.

“If we can play some of the younger ones in this (the Kent Senior Cup) and the London (Senior) Cup then it gives them a chance and it gives me a chance to see what we’ve got coming through.”

That goal gave Gillingham confidence and Payne almost doubled their lead just before the hour mark when he shrugged off Welling left-back Jordan Johnson with ease and drilled a dipping right-footed shot, which was pushed away by Ross, diving low to his left at his near post.

Welling United restored parity in the 69^th minute when last-defender Davies was booked for pulling back Cumbers and Clarke stepped up and sent Gazzaniga the wrong way from the penalty spot to score his fourth goal of the season.

Day said: “I think he’s pulled him as Luis’ gone through.  I thought Crouchy has done reasonably well with good decisions.  He could’ve sent him off but then that’s not achieving anything.  It was a penalty and Clarkey’s put it away and I’m pleased we got the win in the end.

“Yes, I definitely think there would be a few players’ leaving the pitch.  I think Crouchy’s been sensible.   He’s used his brain, he knows either team, whether they’re young lads’ or old lads, we just don’t want people missing for league games that are important for us.”

Welling United finished on the front foot and Day stabbed his shot wide of the near post after being played in by Cumbers, before Day swung in a free-kick towards the near post, but Healy planted his header over.

But as the sparse crowd thought the game was going to go into extra time, Welling United hit Gillingham on the counter attack and the otherwise quiet Tamer Tuna broke down the right and whipped in an excellent free-kick but the unfortunate sliding Dack diverted the ball across Gazzaniga and into the bottom left-hand corner.

Hessenthaler said: “The winning goal, again, young Joe Carter let the lad get in front of him and they counter attack. Bradley’s only a young lad, he can’t do too much than try and get his foot to it as the lad would’ve probably scored.  He’s gutted that he’s scored an own-goal.”

Day added: “Tamer’s done well to get down the side of him and he’s put a decent delivery in and Dacky’s been unlucky to get it and put it past the keeper, but I don’t think both teams wanted extra time anyway.  It’s probably done us a favour.”

Despite the low-key return to the Kent Senior Cup for Gillingham, both managers were pleased with the game.

“It was a good work-out for the boys, it’s better than training at Goals,” said Day.

“I’m pleased we’ve had a good 90 minutes and the boys that needed a run-out have got a run-out and it keeps everyone ticking over and we’ll train again Wednesday and we look forward to Saturday.”

Hessenthaler said: “I’ve just said them in there, I’m absolutely delighted for them tonight. I thought they applied themselves the right way and I couldn’t ask for anymore from them.”

The Gillingham manager confirmed the club will enter the competition again next season.

“It was always a Cup for the youngsters and that’s why we put ourselves into it.  I think it’s good for the relationship (between) us and the Kent FA,” he said.

“We was a little more forced upon ourselves (to play a younger side) because we’ve got so many injuries at the football club at the moment.  I think I learnt a lot tonight from the younger ones.  We can’t be too critical of them, they were terrific tonight.  Even the ones that came on at the end there, the two 16 year-olds.

“We’re delighted, we’ve got a good crop (of youngsters) there and they’re all coming through quite nicely.  Tonight’s game will be great for their further development.”

When asked whether these players’ will go out for work experience to Kent sides, Hessenthaler replied, “They might do, after Christmas.  I think it won’t hurt them.  They’ve had a bit of a taste of it tonight, what it’s all about.  Like I say, it’s good for their education.”

Hessenthaler added: “I felt they put on a really good show tonight for Gillingham Football Club.”

Welling United:  Craig Ross, Andy Sambrook (Jack Taylor 46), Jordan Johnson, Jamie Day, Anthony Acheampong, Jack Parkinson, Quintin Conteh (Jack Kensington 66), Lee Clarke, Tamer Tuna, Luis Cumbers, Joe Healy.
Subs: Andy Pugh, Ben Martin, Jack Moore

Goals: Lee Clarke 69 (penalty), Bradley Dack 90 (own goal)

Booked: Andy Sambrook 34, Joe Healy 89

Gillingham: Paulo Gazzaniga, Jack Evans, Joe Carter, Dean Rance (Jack Parter 77), Connor Essam, Bradley Dack, Jake Hessenthaler, Stefan Payne, Nathan Nyaflii, Ashley Miller (Kane Haysman 81).
Subs: Stephen Butcher, Aaron Millbank, Ashley Bourne

Goal:  Stefan Payne 52 (penalty)

Booked: Ashley Miller 34, Stefan Payne 34, Callum Davies 68

Attendance: 206
Referee: Mr Ian Crouch (Orpington)
Assistants: Mr Elad Amir (Maidstone) & Mr Lee Dyson (Gravesend)