Welling United 3-2 Tonbridge Angels - Best we've played for a long time, says Jack Parkinson

WELLING UNITED  3-2  TONBRIDGE ANGELS
Blue Square Bet South
Tuesday 23^rd August 2011
Stephen McCartney reports from Park View Road

WELLING UNITED manager Jamie Day says he is pleased with his side’s unbeaten start to the season after coming back from two goals down to beat Kent rivals Tonbridge Angels.

The Wings have climbed up to second place in the Blue Square Bet South table with 10 points on the board from four games, whilst Tonbridge Angels suffered defeat in their second successive midweek fixture.

The Angels, who have defeated Maidenhead United and Eastleigh 4-0, completed a smash-and-grab raid during the first half, as striker Frannie Collin grabbed two goals, taking his goalscoring tally to five for the season, but Loick Pires’ injury time header was a crucial moment in the Wings’ fight back.

Welling United striker, Andy Pugh, maintained his impressive record of scoring in every game this season when he levelled for the home side for his fifth of the season, before skipper Jack Parkinson glanced home a 74^th minute deserved winner.

Day, who watched from the sidelines due to a knee injury, said: “We were two down, undeservedly.  I thought it was the most one sided game I’ve seen in a long time!  We kept plugging.  The goal before half-time came at the right time and we thoroughly deserved the win.”

Tonbridge Angels’ boss, Tommy Warrilow, 47, meanwhile, admitted his side deserved nothing from their first Kent derby game of the season.

“To be honest, I was embarrassed to go 2-0 up,” he said.  “It was only two times we got in their box probably, or around the box.  There was a lot of pressure from Welling, we knew they were dangerous from set-pieces and the delivery was excellent.  We knew about that but we never coped with it tonight.

“Overall, I’m not going to moan.  They were the better team.  Our passing was poor tonight, even when we got balls in the box there weren’t enough bodies in there.”

Welling should have opened the scoring after just 122 seconds as right-back Loui Fazakerley whipped in a precise cross from the right by-line but Lee Clarke powered a diving header over from just four-yards out at the far post.

But Tonbridge Angels scored their first within the opening six minutes, courtesy of a fine solo strike from Collin.

The former Dover Athletic striker picked up the ball just inside the Welling half, made a 30-yard run across the pitch and had time and space to drill a low right-footed shot from 30-yards, which left goalkeeper Dan Thomas rooted to the spot as the ball nestled into the bottom far corner.

Warrilow said: “They peeled off him and he got a shot off.  We’ve scrambled the second one in as well, but just looking at overall play, we’re better than that.

“We’ve had four games and two of them we’ve turned up, tonight we haven’t really created a lot on a nice pitch.  We never really seemed to settle and get into our stride but as soon as they got a corner or a set-piece in wide areas we knew we was going to be in a little bit of trouble.”

Day added: “I felt a little bit of indecision when Frannie picked it up but at the same time it was a good finish.  He’s scored a few goals of late so he’s in form and that’s what happens.”

Welling skipper Parkinson sent a 35-yard free-kick over the Tonbridge crossbar, before Welling cut open the Angels defence and should have levelled in the 16^th minute.

Striker Luis Cumbers broke down the left and played a lovely ball inside for the onrushing Clarke, who swept a left-footed shot towards goal, but visiting keeper Lee Worgan made a fine near post block.

Another chance came Welling’s way as the Tonbridge goal was constantly under threat.  Jack Obersteller raced to the left by-line and slipped a low centre but despite sliding in Cumbers was denied by some brave defending from Tonbridge left-back John Heath.

Tonbridge’s second shot at goal saw Anthony Storey whip in a free-kick with his right-foot and striker Ade Olorunda leapt to loop his effort over.

Welling’s crossing was their strong point and Pires made space for himself at the near post as he met Fazakerley’s driven cross from the right but his header sailed harmlessly wide.

Tonbridge Angels grabbed a second goal – totally against the run of play – in the 38^th minute.

The ball found its way over to Danny Walder on the right and his driven shot was parried by Thomas at the near post and the ball spun across the face of goal and Jake Beecroft couldn’t get his shot away, but Collin nipped in and lashed a left-footed shot into the roof of the net from four-yards.

Day said: “Again, we’re disappointed with the goal but I’m watching the game and I honestly felt that there was only one team that was going to win it, even when we was two down.  I thought we played extremely well tonight and we got our rewards from it.”

Warrilow added: “To go 2-0 up when you’re playing badly, you’d take, but the goal bang on half-time obviously gave them the lift.  If we had gone in 2-0 we may have coped with it a little bit more.  The ball just kept coming back all the time.

“Fair play to Welling, they deserved the result tonight.”

However, Pires’ second goal of the season, came at a crucial time, as Welling pulled a goal back with 47:05 on the clock.

With the Tonbridge defence sitting deep, Fazakerley swung in a tantalising free-kick, which Worgan did well to loop up off his fist in amongst a crowd of players, but his second effort to clear was poor and the ball found its way to Pires at the far post, who accepted the gift and nodded the ball into the top right-hand corner from close range.

“The goal, just before half-time, was a little bit of a blow for them, but thoroughly deserved,” said Day.

“We came out second half exactly the same and dominated it and I was pleased when we got two (goals) and obviously the victory.”

Warrilow will work on defending set-pieces at Thursday night’s training session.

He said: “I felt we sat too deep as a four, we should’ve been out of the six-yard box.  Our starting position was nearly on top of Worgs all the time and that’s how the second goal’s come in.  It wasn’t directly from it but it was the second or third attempt.

“I’m disappointed with the goals we’ve let in but I’m not going to sit here and moan.”

From that moment on, it was evident that Welling United were the better team and would go on to win the game.

There was brief respite for Tonbridge as Walder looped a throw into the Welling box, where Ben Andrews looped a back header into Thomas gloves – but the ball then kept coming back at the Angels’ over-worked back four.

Clarke released Joe Healy through on goal in the 57^th minute and after cutting in from the left, his left-footed shot was blocked by Worgan’s legs at the near post.

Welling were dangerous from set-pieces and they should have levelled when Jack Obersteller swung in a corner from the right, Parkinson headed the ball across goal and Clarke shot from six-yards somehow looped over.

But a costly mistake from Andrews, when the Tonbridge central defender slipped over inside the Angels box in the 70^th minute, gifted Welling a deserved leveller, as Pugh slid a right-footed shot across Worgan and into the far corner.

Warrilow said: “Look at the second goal, we fell over in the box!  If they’d have fallen over in their box tonight, we wouldn’t have anyone near it.  We wouldn’t be anywhere near that and that’s what happens.  We was under the cosh.  I wouldn’t mind if they worked for that goal, but Ben’s actually fallen over so it’s another gift.”

Day said: “The front three, to be fair, to all eleven that have played in the last four games have been excellent.  We’ve been creating chances, we’re battling and we’re putting ourselves in good positions, so I’m really pleased.

“Obviously I’d like to play, but in fairness to the boys, the way they’ve been performing in the last three games, I don’t think I would get in the side anyway, so it’s nice for me to have a little look from the side and manage as well and when they’re playing like this and getting results, I’m pleased.”

Welling upped the tempo even further, and the home faithful increased their vocal support and it was only a matter of time that the winner would arrive.

Fazakerley’s sent a corner in from the left which was met at the far post by Pires, who powered a header down and across goal and Parkinson glanced the ball into the net with his body from close range and justice was done.

Pires was originally credited with the goal at the game, but aided by video evidence, Parkinson has since laid claim to the winning goal.

“I thought we played well today,” said Parkinson, 22, who played for Tonbridge Angels’ youth team.

“I thought we dominated the majority of the game.  To come in conceding two in the first half was gutting really.  I think they probably only had a couple of shots in the first half and they both went in!

“To be fair to the lad (Collin), he caught the first one well, but I thought we dominated possession much throughout the game and we was pleased.”

When asked his thoughts on Pires’ crucial header at the end of the first half, Parkinson replied, “It was always coming and to be honest Ash (Barry Ashby) and the gaffer wrote notes down throughout the half before the goal and they were saying it was the best we’ve played for a long time and we just need to keep the ball, keep it moving and we always felt we could get back into the game. It was a killer blow for them really. I think they went in with their heads slightly down.”

And Parkinson is claiming the winning goal.

“It was a good header from Loick to be fair and he’s headed it across, I just sort of glanced it in so I’ve got to take it.  I don’t score many.  I’ve got to claim it but I don’t blame Loick for running off.  I would’ve done the same thing. It hit me and went in so I’ve got to take it ain’t I?”

Parkinson joins the extensive list of players to score against their former club.

“It’s always pleasing (to score).  It’s a nice little club Tonbridge.  To be honest, a winner in any game is always pleasing.” 

Day added: “We’ve had a good start.  We had a disappointing first game as first games are always tough, but the way we’ve responded in the last three games, I’m thoroughly pleased.  Hopefully we can continue that.”

Warrilow seeks improvement from his side going into the Bank Holiday weekend.

“I’m disappointed we never played tonight.  It’s a lovely pitch.   We never really got the ball down and got into our stride and that’s what’s annoyed me the most.  If you’re going to lose at least have a go and say we opened them up and did this and did that, but tonight, even when we went three up top (for the final ten minutes) we’re getting flicks but we’re miles apart from each other.

“Whatever we tried tonight weren’t working, but at the same time I just said to the lads ‘you’ve got to start growing up a little bit and start taking some responsibility. We can’t do that every week!’

“I’ve got go complaints about the result.  I’m obviously disappointed with the performance we’ve put in.” 

Welling United: Dan Thomas, Loui Fazakerley, Jack Obersteller, Joe Healy, Anthony Acheampong, Ben Martin, Jack Parkinson, Lee Clarke, Luis Cumbers, Andy Pugh, Loick Pires (Zac Attwood 87).
Subs: Jordan Johnson, Stephen Camacho, Quentin Conteh, Oliver Poole.

Goals: Loick Pires 45, Andy Pugh 70, Jack Parkinson 74

Booked: Joe Healy 43

Tonbridge Angels: Lee Worgan, Sonny Miles, John Heath (Jon Main 81), Lee Browning, Ben Judge, Ben Andrews, Jake Beecroft, Anthony Storey, Ade Olorunda, Frannie Collin, Danny Walder (Chris Henry 74).
Subs: Tim Olorunda, Alwayne Jones, Joe Hagan.

Goals: Frannie Collin 6, 38

Booked: Anthony Storey 45, Frannie Collin 62

Attendance:  545
Referee: Mr Benjamin Knight (Waterlooville, Hampshire)
Assistants: Mr Peter Georgiou (Wimbledon, London SW17) & Mr Maurice Taylor (Southampton, Hampshire)