Welling United 2-1 Luton Town - For us to get in Second Round is a massive achievement, says Day

WELLING UNITED  2-1  LUTON TOWN
The FA Cup with Budweiser First Round
Saturday 9^th November 2013
Stephen McCartney reports from Park View Road

WELLING UNITED manager Jamie Day says reaching The FA Cup Second Round for the first time in 24 years is a massive achievement for the club.

The Wings will be ball number 37 in Sunday’s Draw after they produced a giant-killing by sending Luton Town crashing out of The FA Cup at a wet Park View Road.

Luton Town arrived in Kent sitting in third-place in The Skrill (Conference) Premier with 31 points from 17 games and were unbeaten in ten games but they were only three points better off than eighth-placed Welling United.

But this victory can be classed as a giant-killing because of the gulf between the two clubs.

The Hatters, who have the largest support in the Conference, became the first non-league club to beat Premier League opposition in The FA Cup when they stunned Norwich City in the Fourth Round last season, before going out to bitter-rivals Millwall in the Fifth Round.

Luton Town’s 740 travelling supporters brought with them immense vocal support with them, and their history in the game far outweighs Welling United, who celebrate their 50^th anniversary back in the top flight of non-league football after a thirteen year absence after clinching the Conference South title last season.

The Hatters were playing the likes of Manchester United in the top-flight of English football in 1996.  They were FA Cup runners-up back in 1958-59 when they were defeated by Nottingham Forest, underneath the iconic Wembley Twin Towers.

Luton Town returned to Wembley recently as 1993-94, when they lost 2-0 to Chelsea in the Semi-Finals.

But Welling United are only 90 minutes away from replicating their best ever FA Cup run, when they reached the Third Round and were defeated 1-0 by Blackburn Rovers at Park View Road in January 1989.

Welling United, with one home defeat to their name this season, did the damage in the first half when Lee Clarke and Joe Healy gave the Kent side a 2-0 lead at the break.

But former Charlton Athletic striker Paul Benson pulled a goal back for Luton Town, before they piled on the pressure and a string of fine saves from former Leyton Orient stopper Lee Butcher ensured it will be Welling United’s name in the velvet bag in tomorrow’s draw at Wembley Stadium.

“Obviously very pleased with the result today,” said Day, 34.

“I thought first half was a really good performance and we had to dig in second half.  We were put under a lot of pressure and Butch pulled four or five really good saves towards the end.  That’s going to happen in Cup games, they can send everyone forward and we had to deal with it. Credit to the boys.”

Day added: “Luton had a right good go second half and probably felt a bit unlucky that they did not get one but when Butch was called upon, that’s why he’s a League keeper because he can produce saves like that!”

When asked where does knocking out Luton Town rank in his achievements as Welling’s manager, Day replied: “For us to get in to the next round is a massive achievement. I’m pleased for the club, obviously pleased for the boys and all the staff and hopefully we’ll get our rewards tomorrow.

“I think for me the league is always the main priority because that’s where we can be consistent and I can gage where we are as a club and where our players’ are at and winning the league last year is the main achievement for me being a manager.

“This years’ experiences have been good. We want more of them and today’s up there with it. It’s good to get into the next round and we’ll have a couple of drinks tonight and celebrate.”

Luton Town manager John Still made four changes from the side that were held to a goal-less draw at Gateshead last weekend.

One of them was left-winger Dave Martin, who was kept in Loui Fazkerley’s pocket for the 58 minutes that the former Slade Green and Dartford player was on the pitch.

Welling United made one change from the side that defeated Lincoln City 1-0 here last weekend and striker Ross Lafayette (who was unstoppable during the first half) played a major part as he set up both of the Wings’ goals

The first half was played at an extremely high tempo with Luton Town pressing early, but it was Welling United that created the first chance inside the opening seven minutes.

Jake Gallagher – who scored his first goal of the season against Lincoln City – tried his luck with a right-footed drive from 25-yards, which sailed over the crossbar.

Luton Town’s opening chance, however, arrived within three minutes of Gallagher’s effort.

A long clearance from second-choice keeper Elliot Justham was flicked on by Benson and was latched onto by right-sided attacker Mark Cullen, who stroked his left-footed angled drive past the diving Butcher and agonisingly past the far post from 25-yards.

A clever chipped pass from Steve McNulty fell to Luke Gutteridge, whose first time drive flashed harmlessly wide of the near post from 20-yards.

Luton Town were dominant during the early stages and they should have scored with their only corner of the game in the 18^th minute.

Martin swung the ball in from the right which sailed to Benson at the far post and his header was blocked by Butcher at his near post.  The ball came out to James Stevenson, who drilled a shot across the face of goal and Benson was given space to steer his shot wide of the near post.

It appeared that there was a gulf in class inside the opening 25 minutes between part-time Welling United and full-time Luton Town.

But Welling United weathered the early storm and created their first real chance in the 25^th minute.

Lafayette flicked the ball on and Healy and Jack Obersteller linked up well and Lafayette’s right-footed shot on the turn from eighteen-yards brought a comfortable low save from Justham.

But the Welling United faithful were celebrating when Clarke scored a trademark goal – his 58^th career goal for the club – in the 27^th minute.

Lafayette played the ball to Healy, who released Lafayette into the right-hand side of the penalty area before he cut the ball back across the face of goal and Clarke slid in to poke his shot into the bottom right-hand corner from three-yards.

Day said: “Good bit of play. I thought a good interlink and Clarky does what he does best – arriving in the box and it was a great finish. 

“He’s scored quite a few goals like that this season. He’s obviously raised his game this year and I’m pleased for him.”

Day felt his heroes should have increased their lead only 71 seconds after Clarke’s seventh goal of the season.

Luton swiftly gave the ball away and the ball was played up to Lafayette, who used his strength to shrug off McNulty’s attentions to race into the penalty area but he steered his right-footed shot agonisingly wide of the foot of the near post when he only had the Luton keeper to beat.

Day said: “Normally on a normal day you bank on him nine times out of ten scoring!

“Maybe a little bit of rustiness where he hasn’t played maybe crept in there but it would have been nice to get that second one at that stage and kick on there and try and get the third but we didn’t and credit to the boys, they kept going and we got the second one which we deserved.”

Every team needs a slice of luck and Welling United had theirs when Luton Town missed an open goal on the half-hour mark.

Butcher made his only mistake of the game and Benson played the ball inside to Guttridge, who stroked his right-footed shot wide of the left-hand post from 20-yards – from inside the D.

Day admitted: “Maybe we were a little bit lucky at times but it’s The FA Cup. You get a little bit of luck in that and we got ours today.”

Martin was not having his best game back in the county where he made his name before turning professional.

A sweeping Luton Town move resulted in Guttridge playing the ball inside to Martin in space inside the box but Welling United right-back Fazakerley came across to make a fine sliding tackle to win his side a goal-kick.

Welling United doubled their lead in the 44^th minute and Luton Town had no way back.

A poor clearance from Justham wasn’t dealt with by his team-mates and Lafayette produced another quality pass to split Jake Howells and Alex Lacey to put Healy through on goal and the former Beckenham Town midfielder kept his composure and slotted his right-footed shot across the keeper to find the far corner from 12-yards.

It was Healy’s fourth goal of the season and his 28^th career goal for the club, one behind his manager.

“Great bit of movement again, a great bit of play,” hailed Day.

“Good awareness from Roscoe, a good run from Joe Healy to break the back line and a good finish.

“First half we deserved it. I thought we were the better team. Obviously pleased to go two-up.”

The Wings created the last chance of the first half when Blaine Hudson came up from the back and held his head in his hands after nodding down and wide of the left-hand post after Obersteller swung in a corner from the right towards the far post.

When asked his half-time thoughts, Day replied: “Obviously we had to make sure we knew it was only half the job done and we knew it was going to be a tough second half.

“We knew we had to come out and try to prevent them from scoring and take advantage of the chances when we got them.”

Welling United created the first chance of the second half when Obersteller reached the by-line and cut the ball back but neither Kurtis Guthrie or Lafayette could apply the necessary finish at the near post.

Luton Town upped their urgency levels during the second half and a cross from the right by Cullen was cleared out to James Stevenson, who blasted his shot high over the bar from 25-yards.

Welling United had a brief respite in the 52^nd minute but former Wealdstone midfielder Alex Dyer’s shot from just outside the box took a deflection before narrowly clearing the Luton crossbar after the keeper punched away Obersteller’s in-swinging corner from the right.

Gallagher clipped the ball into the Luton penalty area and Healy brought the ball under his spell but Andy Parry came from nowhere to make a precise tackle.

The roar and the passionate support coming from the visiting fans that were housed in the Erith & Belvedere stand was deafening when Luton Town gave themselves a 56^th minute lifeline.

Jonathan Smith played the ball out to Parry, who had time and space to whip in a cross from the right and an unmarked Benson powered his header towards goal.

Butcher made the first of his brilliant saves to claw the ball up – but the ball looped up and Benson reacted first and headed the ball into the top right-hand corner from one-yard.

Day said: “Obviously Luton raised their game second half and got a goal they deserved and we had to dig in a little bit second half and we done that.

“I thought it was a great save,” said Day. “A free header in the box, which is not good enough from our part and a great save and again we didn’t react quickly enough to the second one.

“The lad (Benson) reacted and put it in to the back of the net and I felt we just started to look a little bit tired and a few players’ switched off a little bit but we kept digging and we kept going.”

Welling United should reconsider housing away fans underneath a roof because the noise coming from Luton Town fans was electrifying.

Day said: “Great turnout from their fans and once they got one (goal) you knew they raised their level (of support) and got behind their team, which you want them to do, what you want all fans to do and it spurred them on.

“That’s what you want, games like this and an environment like this. We want it on a regular basis. There was 1,555 in here today and like I said before we want to be hitting a thousand mark at home and we need to get supporters through the gates supporting the team.”

And Luton’s excellent support kept their side pressing forward and keeping Welling United on the back foot.

Butcher kept his side in the lead when he pulled off a brilliant save when he dived low to his left and got a strong left hand to parry Parry’s drilled right-footed shot from 25-yards, which was destined for the bottom corner.

Welling United had a chance to put the game beyond Luton Town in the 66^th minute when Fazakerley was given time and space to float over a cross from the right and the ball was punched away by Justham to Dyer whose right-footed hooked chip was caught by the keeper at his near post.

Luton Town piled on the pressure on sitting-back Welling United in the final fifteen minutes.

Day admitted: “I thought we got a little bit deep and didn’t squeeze like we did in the first half. We invited a bit of pressure on but you’re going to expect that against a club the size of them.

“We knew when Butch first came to us at the start of the season what a good keeper he was and that’s why we’ve done what we had to do to try to recruit him and he showed again when he’s called upon, like all clubs, you need your number one!”

Guttridge cut in a low left-footed cross from the left which rolled to Benson, who turned two markers but thankfully for Butcher the swept shot lacked any power from ten-yards and the keeper smothered the spinning ball.

Stevenson cracked a fierce right-footed drive from 30-yards, which screamed narrowly wide of the left-hand post.

A long ball out of Luton’s defence by McNulty was glanced towards goal by Benson, with Butcher making a save low to his left.

Welling United gave away a silly free-kick in their right-back position and substitute Alex Lawless swung into the far post and Lacy planted his header over the crossbar.

Butcher thwarted Luton Town twice inside the final four minutes – to the delight of the home fans.

Cullen whipped in a cross and Benson sent his towering header down and Butler dived low to his right to make another brilliant save.

And Cullen’s through ball released substitute Lawless through on goal with only Butcher to make, but the Welling keeper rushed off his line to make a match-winning block.

The final whistle brought immense pride from the Welling United faithful and Day was certainly proud of his side’s achievements and The FA Cup proves that any underdog and part-time club can upset their full-time counterparts.

“We’ve got some very good young players,” said Day.

“You look at the two clubs. Luton’s a massive club. We’re part-time. Our players all go to work after training (in the morning) – that’s where we’re at, at the moment.

“We’d love to be able to go full-time but we’re not in a position to do that so we know when we play these big clubs we’ve got to raise our game and try to compete with them. I felt we done that today and we’ve done that so far this season and that’s got to continue.”

Welling United’s FA Cup wins over Brislington and Luton Town has banked £30,500 in welcomed prize money – plus other benefits that non-league clubs welcome for reaching this stage.

Day said: “We’ve just got to keep going. Cup runs are a nice side-track for us. It obviously brings some money into the club, which is needed.”

Day wants his side to reach the Third Round and draw a big Premier League club to help fulfil his full-time dream.

“I think the chairman would like a home tie but I’m just happy to be in the Second Round,” said Day.

“If we can get a big draw, it’s great. If we don’t, we want to get in the round after that. Hopefully we can get a decent home draw and get through or we get a big one away from home and the boys enjoy the experience.

“For me, I’d love to be able to go full-time at this club.

“But the fan base that we’ve got at the moment the money we generate off the pitch, we’re not in a position to be able to do that. 

“I think for us that’s got to be the next step otherwise we’re probably going to lose some key players that want to go full-time, the younger lads because we can’t keep them on part-time money and part-time training so I think for us as a club to go forward that’s what we need to try and do.

“We need to stay in this league first this year and then hopefully we can rebuild again in the summer and try to get as near as full-time as possible.”

As for Luton Town, Day added: “It’s nice that we won today and Luton are a good club that’s going in the right direction and their aim is obviously get out of league, with a Cup run involved in that but I don’t think that’s their priority this year.

“I feel they need to get out of it. They’ve got a good manager, an experienced manager that knows this level and knows what’s needed. Hopefully they can achieve what they want to achieve.”

But Welling United can beat ANYONE in the Second Round at fortress Park View Road.

“We’ve got to keep using it to our advantage because our away form hasn’t been brilliant so we have to make sure we maintain a good level of performances at home and use it to our advantage so we’ve got to keep looking to do that and hopefully we can pick up our away form and pick up some points away from home.”

Welling United travel to Barnet’s new 5,175 capacity stadium at The Hive, Camrose Avenue, Edgware on Tuesday as they return to the bread and butter of the Conference Premier. 

Edgar Davids side are smarting following their 6-0 defeat at Preston North End in The FA Cup today.

“We played them here and they had ten men and they caused us a problem. We know that’s going to be the case on Tuesday,” warned Day.

“We’ve got to rotate the squad a little bit, some players that haven’t played will be involved on Tuesday and a couple of players who played today will be tired and might need a rest so the squad is going to get stretched.

“But all the boys that will play and are brought in I know will give 100% and do the best for me and the club.

“We have to go there and be positive and keep this run going, as you say, the bread and butter of the league and try and get some points on the board on Tuesday night.” 

Welling United:  Lee Butcher, Loui Fazakerley, Fraser Franks, Blaine Hudson, Jack Obersteller, Kurtis Guthrie (Kiernan Hughes-Mason 85), Jake Gallagher, Lee Clarke, Alex Dyer (Harry Beautyman 85), Joe Healy, Ross Lafayette.
Subs: Jamie Turner, Callum Webb, Sam Corne, Jamie Day

Goals:  Lee Clarke 27, Joe Healy 44

Booked:  Alex Dyer 63

Luton Town: Elliot Justham, Andy Parry, Steve McNulty, Alex Lacey, Jake Howells (Zane Banton 89), Mark Cullen, James Stevenson, Jonathan Smith, Dave Martin (Alex Lawless 58), Paul Benson, Luke Guttridge (JJ O’Donnell 80).
Subs: Mark Tyler, Solomon Taiwo, Scott Griffiths, Matt Robinson

Goal: Paul Benson 56

Booked:  Steve McNulty 50

Attendance: 1,555 (740 away supporters)
Referee: Mr Ben Toner (Darwen, Lancashire)
Assistants: Mr Rob Smith (Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire) & Mr Alex Neil (Sutton, Surrey)
Fourth Official: Mr Matt Eva (Tongham, Farnham, Surrey)