Another tight game went against Welling United as they fell to a controversial defeat at Carshalton Athletic.

They were the better side in the first half then conceded just before half time. After the Wings levelled in the second period, they conceded a penalty which was converted before they should have been awarded one of their own in the last minute of regulation time.

In the early stages Carshalton’s Tolu Ladapo had a shot deflected wide before the visitors’ Zack Hambury had a shot blocked past the post for a corner. Femi Akinwande, on his full Welling debut, then had a twenty five yard shot pushed round the post by Matt Kerbey.

Akinwande had another effort when he used his strength to hold off his man, spun, and fired over. Then, he received an excellent threaded pass from Jack Paxman and shot low towards the bottom corner but Kerbey did well to dive to save.

Hambury burst down the right wing and drove in a fierce low cross that Kerbey held at the second attempt before the hosts went ahead three minutes before half time, against the run of play. Former Wing Mason Saunders-Henry was given too much space and allowed to shoot from the edge of the area but it still took a massive deflection to wrong foot Welling goalkeeper Freddie Norman and fly into the back of the net.

Ladapo almost made it two moments later when he shrugged off his man and fired towards the near post but Norman did well to get across and turn it round. Deep into first half stoppage time, Ladapo crossed to David Smith, however, Luke O’Neill did enough to put him off and he headed wide.

Early in the second half Lekan Majoyegbe headed wide for Welling before Smith’s header from Sharon Ifeanyi’s cross hit a Wings header to go past the post.

On the hour mark, Welling drew level. Hambury crossed, Akinwande flicked it on and Logan Dobbs headed home from close range. Soon after Aaron Williams-Bushell and Eze Ebuzoeme combined to send Hambury away and he fired into the side netting.

Hambury then turned provider when sending substitute John Ufuah away and he probably should have shot rather than attempting to square, especially as it was cut out and cleared.

Quarter of an hour remained when the Robins went back ahead. Ifeanyi was tripped by Cory Adjetey-Brew. Although the referee didn’t point to the spot immediately, his assistant alerted him and a penalty was awarded. Tommy Bradford stepped up and converted.

As Welling searched for an equaliser they were almost caught on the counter when Ifeyani broke away and sent Abdullateef Salami in on goal but Norman saved his shot easily.

Then came the big talking point. Ufuah got in behind Sanchez Ming and as he attempted to shoot, he was brought down by the ex-Welling player for what should have been given as a penalty. For some reason, the referee saw it differently and awarded a free kick to Carshalton.

Lucas Dyer, a Carshalton substitute had a shot saved at one end before Welling replacement James Dyer did likewise at the other end. The Wings’ Dyer had one last chance in additional time with a free kick but, although it was on target, it lacked power and was saved easily.

After the match had finished, Welling manager Lee Martin spoke to the referee and was shown a red card.

Carshalton Athletic: Kerbey; Read, Hamstead (Ming 63), Atewologun, Sankoh; Muirhead: Ladapo (Korboa 77), Saunders-Henry (Nzuzi 63), Ifeanyi (Dyer 87); Bradford, Smith (Salami 77).

Subs not used: None.

Goalscorer: Saunders-Henry (42), Bradford (76 pen)

Yellow cards: Hamstead (54 foul), Bradford (82 foul)

Welling United: Norman; O’Neill (Ufuah 53), Dobbs, Majoyegbe, Adjetey-Brew; Williams-Bushell, Ebuzoeme (Addy 79), Paxman; Hambury (Dyer 83); Akinwande, Shakpoke.

Subs not used: None.

Goalscorer: Dobbs (60) 

Yellow cards: Majoyegbe (9 foul), Paxman (40 foul) 

Referee: Simon Finnigan

Assistants: Amine Khaldi and Ben Al-Shaikh

Attendance: 512

Pictures supplied by Peter Jpzwiak.