Despite finishing with ten men, Welling United claimed the derby honours with a win at Cray Valley PM in the first round of the Kent Senior Cup.
Both managers opted to take advantage of the opportunity to select teams with a mixture of experience and youth in a tournament that is not a priority to either club, although both would have wanted to progress.
It was a Welling youth team player who opened the scoring in the twelfth minute. A Sam Smith corner was knocked back out to him, and he drove it back in for youngster Santino Norris to fire home at the near post.
Denzel Gayle failed to hit the target for the Millers before James Stewart’s header struck the crossbar as they looked to get back onto level terms.
Half chances at each end came to nothing before Welling’s Lionel Lazellari had the last opportunity of the first period when slotting just wide of the far post after getting in behind the Cray Valley defence.
Ade Azeez lost his footing when in a great position soon after the break then Smith had options either side but chose to go alone and his shot flew just wide of the upright. Jack Leahy delivered a free kick for the Millers that Egkbe Obiajulu met with a flicked header that also failed to hit the target.
Having already used all four of their substitutes, the visitors were reduced to ten men when Smith had to limp off with eighteen minutes remaining, however, it was they who scored again three minutes later. Nahum Melvin-Lambert was sent clear and he gave goalkeeper Harrison Chamberlain no chance with an emphatic finish.
Troy Howard came close to making it three for the Wings before Cray Valley’s Oliver Whitby shot wide when well placed. Amani Bowlin’s cross was half blocked causing it to loop and come down onto the top of the Welling bar then Osa Otote’s effort was saved easily by Phil Ogayi, Welling’s goalkeeper.
Darnell Fuller burst through for the Wings but shot over before they did add a third when Cameron Ano did well to set up Melvin-Lambert. Although his initial effort was blocked, he made no mistake with his follow up, firing home venomously.
Now the Wings wait to see who they will be drawn against in the second round.
Cray Valley PM: Chamberlain; Jeffrey, Puemo, Benedict, Cain (Patrick-Smith 63); Turner, Whitby (Nkrumah 73); Gayle (Otote 60), Leahy, Muwonge (Bowlin 73); Stewart (Obiajulu 60).
Subs not used: None
Goalscorers: None
Yellow cards: None
Welling United: Ogayi; Otseh-Taiwo, Norris, Ntonye, Maragh; Smith, Miller-Rodney (Reynolds 61); Howard, Bennett (Fuller 46), Lazellari (Ano 46); Azeez (Melvin Lambert 61).
Subs not used: None.
Goalscorer: Norris (12). Melvin-Lambert (75), (90+1)
Yellow cards: Bennett (42 dissent)
Referee: Joshua Williams
Assistants: Leigh Newby and Kasper Crittenden-Wedge
Attendance: 197
Pictures supplied by Romana Rule