Welling United 3-2 Tonbridge Angels - If you give Whitnell a chance, he will score, says Day

Sunday 22nd November 2009

WELLING UNITED 3-2 TONBRIDGE ANGELS
FA Carlsberg Trophy Third Qualifying Round
Sunday 22nd November 2009
Stephen McCartney report from Park View Road

JAMIE DAY has taken to football management well, as Welling United booked their place in the first round of the FA Carlsberg Trophy in what turned out to be a flat Kent derby at Park View Road today.

The Wings join Dover Athletic, Maidstone United (who also won Kent derbies yesterday) and beleaguered Ebbsfleet United in the last 64, courtesy of a brace from Tom Whitnell and an Andy Pugh opener.

Tonbridge Angels striker, Carl Rook, took his tally to fifteen goals for the season with a brace, although the game was a disappointment for all concerned.

Despite heavy rain during the morning of the game, the game went ahead, although the versatile Barry Hobbins had to sweep brown leafs to clear the lines at the Danson Park end of the ground before kick-off, although the rain kept away during the match.

Both sides went into the game on a good run of form - Welling United have kept three clean sheets during their games against Lewes, Worcester City and Staines Town - whilst Tonbridge Angels had won their last five competitive games.

But Whitnell’s seventh and eighth goals of the season were enough to derail the Angels, who suffered with leafs on the line.

Day, who had to sit out as he was Trophy-tied, having played earlier in the competition for Dartford, brought in Ryan Johnson, Sam Hurrell, Jack Parkinson and Pugh, making his second debut, on loan from Gillingham.

Tonbridge Angels were also Liam Harwood (Trophy-tied), and lost Steve Ferguson (hamstring) during the warm-up, so Liam Baker was a late inclusion.

Other changes saw Jon Heath come in for Harwood and Rook relegated Frenchman Jean-Michel Sigere to the bench.

In what was a tight opening, Tonbridge Angels, fifth in the Ryman Premier, had the game’s first chance as former Welling striker Paul Booth drilled a shot just past the foot of the near post on the angle.

But clinical Pugh broke the deadlock with the home side’s first shot on target, after 21 minutes.

The 20-year-old was released through the heart of the Angels defence by Loui Fazackerley and Pugh smashed a right-footed drive past Lee Worgan into the top right-hand corner from just inside the penalty area.

Wings goalkeeper, Charlie Mitten, made comfortable saves from two headed chances from Lee Minshull and Marc Cumberbatch, following two free-kicks from Anthony Storey.

But Welling doubled their lead - with their second shot on target - after 36 minutes.

Central midfielder, Ryan Johnson, played the ball over the top of Cumberbatch and this allowed Whitnell to chip the ball over the advancing Worgan and the ball bounced a couple of times before finding the back of the net.

Tonbridge Angels were gifted a penalty in the 42nd minute when Storey’s free-kick was headed across the face of goal by Minshull and the ball struck the hand of a Welling defender in a crowded penalty box.

Before the kick was taken, Mitten jumped up and down on his line making himself as big as possible, and dived to his right but Rook’s right-footed penalty kick was too good and nestled into the corner of the net.

Angels keeper Worgan made his best save on the stroke of half-time, tipping Pugh’s left-footed drive from just outside the box, over his crossbar.

Tonbridge Angels started the second half brightly as they went in search of an equaliser before they went off the boil.

A well-worked corner routine, involving Watts and Storey down the left, resulting in Booth heading down and just wide of the far post.

But their best chance fell in the 51st minute when Watts crossed again from the left and the ball was knocked down by Booth but Jamie Cade blazed over from just eight-yards out when he really should have smashed the ball into the back of the net.

Fans had to wait until halfway through the second half for the next chance, but Welling failed to take the opportunity presented to them by the returning Scott Gooding, a substitute.

Mitten’s clearance was headed clear by the central defender but Fazackerley drove a shot across goal and past the far post.

Poor defending from Cumberbatch, meanwhile, gifted Welling the decisive third goal in the 76th minute.

Yet again it was Johnson’s hopeful ball up field that should have been dealt with by Cumberbatch, but the defender allowed the ball to roll underneath his foot and this mistake was punished by Whitnell, who ran on and smashed a low drive past Worgan to beat him at his near post.

Tonbridge scored a flattering second goal in the third minute of stoppage time.

Watts and Cade combined down the left and Minshull floated in a cross, which was flicked on by Booth and Rook jumped into Mitten, who dropped the ball, and the prolific striker turned and smashed the ball into the net from all but two yards from goal.

Thankfully, Day didn’t take too long to come up to the press box, whilst his players warmed down, and was pleased with his side’s afternoon’s work.

The rookie 30-year-old, in only his second game in management, earns a full-time living through football, as he is also a coach at Haberdasher Askes College in south London.

“I thought we deserved the win,” he told www.kentishfootball.co.uk. “I didn’t think we looked under any real threat throughout the game.

“I thought the two goals they scored were questionable. At the end of the day we got the result and I’m pleased we got through to the next round.”

Day paid tribute to his squad, who are now five games unbeaten - their best run of the season.

“All credit to the lads, they’ve done really well last week and this week and obviously the previous two games.

“I’m pleased with their efforts and work-rate and hopefully it’ll continue.”

Day was delighted that both of his strikers got on the scoresheet.

He said: “If you give Tommy a chance he will score, he doesn’t need many. I think he had two opportunities and scored two goals.

“We know what he can do, he’s rated highly by us here, so I’m pleased for him.”

Speaking about Pugh, Day added: “We know Andy’s qualities and what he can bring to the team and I think at times he showed that today and scored a great goal.”

For Tonbridge Angels boss, Tommy Warrilow, meanwhile, he wanted more from the game.

“To be honest I thought it was very flat today,” he told www.kentishfootball.co.uk when he emerged from the side door of the visiting dressing rooms.

“First half I thought we started well, we were unlucky to go 2-0 down. I thought we deserved to get back into it at 2-1.

“Second half, I’ll be honest with you, we never came out and performed.

“I was disappointed with the atmosphere, I thought it would be a bit more of a Trophy tie atmosphere.

“Even afterwards, I said to the boys it registered that we’re out of the Trophy, it’s a big game here. It just seemed really flat, but I am disappointed not to go through the next round without a shadow of a doubt.

“I thought we played some good stuff and I think we’ve gifted them three goals today.

“I can’t remember Worgs (Worgan) being tested a lot but the first one has come from a very poor goal-kick, it’s bounced all the way through the middle of the pitch and they’ve scored from it.

“The second one was sloppy and the third one, obviously we’ve not closed down well, Cumbers has tired to bring it down and he’s lost control of it and they put it away.

“But at 2-1 you think you’ve got a chance. At 3-1, we knew we was running out of time. But yes I’m disappointed as we’ve not made them work for their goals.”

Warrilow added: “Don’t get me wrong, they’re a good team, but they didn’t earn their goals. We’ve given them their goals today.

“Good luck to them in the next round, I hope they progress, good luck to Daysey, a good start to his managerial career but from our point of view, if we get chances like that we’ve got to take them.

“Fair play to Welling, we’ve messed up a couple of times and they’ve punished us but like you said by your own admission, if that was all their shots on target then obviously we haven’t done a great deal wrong here. It was a pretty even game.”

Welling United: Charlie Mitten, Andy Sambrook, Michael Deane, Ryan Johnson, Jack Parkinson, Graeme Andrews, Tony Finn, Sam Hurrell, Andy Pugh, Tom Whitnell (Jake Hobbs 81), Loui Fazackerley.
Subs: Michael Bakare, Tom Hopkins, Ciaran Mulyhill, Matt Bennett.

Goals: Andy Pugh 21, Tom Whitnell 36, 76

Booked: Sam Hurrell 34, Jack Parkinson 61

Tonbridge Angels: Lee Worgan, Lewis Hamilton, Jon Heath (Jean-Michel Sigere 77), Jamie Cade, Lee Minshull, Marc Cumberbatch, Liam Baker (Scott Gooding 62), Anthony Storey, Paul Booth, Carl Rook, Kirk Watts.
Subs: Steve Ferguson, Tom Bryant.

Goals: Carl Rook 42 (pen), 90

Booked: Jamie Cade 28, Liam Baker 58, Carl Rook 59

Attendance: 510
Referee: Mr Carl Fitch (Ipswich, Suffolk)
Assistants: Mr Mark Potkins (Woodbridge, Suffolk) & Mr John Mitchell (Ipswich, Suffolk)