There were talking points aplenty when Welling United came from behind to win at Cray Valley (PM) in their Isthmian League Premier Division derby.

However, the biggest one came just before half time when the Millers’ captain Danny Waldren was dismissed for handling on the goal-line. It came back out to Azeez and he fired home but as the referee had blown his whistle and awarded a spot kick before it went in, it meant that Waldren had denied the Wings a goal scoring opportunity so he had to be dismissed. Azeez then converted from the spot to bring the scores level.

That changed the momentum of the match and Welling had much the better of the second period to run out comfortable victors.

Dean Gunner had the first chance of the match with a shot that went wide from the edge of the penalty area after Zak O’Keefe’s long throw had been headed out to him. Makise Evans then shot tamely at the end of a good move by the Millers, and Mackenzie Foley saved comfortably.

Evans was again involved when he fired across the face of goal and beyond the far post after Fumnaya Shomotun played him in before Cray Valley went ahead in the nineteenth minute. Kurtis Cumberbatch struck a shot that bounced up in front of Foley and he couldn’t hold it allowing Evans to follow up and bundle it home.

Shomotun came close to doubling the Millers’ lead when he cut in from the right and unleashed a shot with his left foot that was destined for the top corner before Foley got across to make a stunning save.

Both managers, Cray’s Kevin Lisbie and Ryan Maxwell from Welling, struggled to understand some refereeing decisions and voiced their opinions too forcibly earning themselves yellow cards before Shomotun was forced onto his right foot and blasted well wide of the near post.

Then, with half time approaching, a wayward back pass was cut out by Azeez, he went round goalkeeper Prince Adegoke, and the hand-ball, red card, and penalty conversion followed resulting in the teams going in level on goals, although not personnel.

Early in the second period Adegoke got down well to make an excellent save from O’Keefe before a long throw was nodded on to Troy Howard and his header was claimed well by the Millers’ goalkeeper. However, he was powerless to stop Welling from going ahead just shy of the hour mark. John Ufuah crossed deep and Howard met it with a low controlled volley that gave Adegoke no chance.

Five minutes later, Cray thought they had levelled when a clever free kick training ground move ended with Evans bundling it home at the far post. His joy was short lived when he saw the assistant manager’s flag raised for offside.

Thirteen minutes remained when Welling extended their lead. Sam Smith received a pass from Ufuah and turned on the edge of the penalty area before firing brilliantly into the top corner.

Marvel Ekpiteta headed wide from Kenny Aileru’s cross for the Millers before Welling added a fourth in stoppage time. Jack Thomas sent Ufuah through and he fired his shot back across goal and inside the far post.

Victory for the Wings moved them up to third from bottom, three points behind the Millers having played a game fewer.

Cray Valley (PM): Adegoke; Bowry, Waldren, Ekpiteta, Newby; Cumberbatch, Agyemang (Beere 78); Shomotun, Adebiyi (Aileru 67), Ajakaiye (Tumkaya 45); Evans. Subs not used: Barrington, Green.

Goalscorer: Evans (19)
Yellow cards: Bowry (78 foul), Shomotun (90+5 dissent)
Red card: Waldren (43 denial of goalscoring opportunity)

Welling United: Foley; O’Keefe, Paternoster, Gunner, Arthur; Thomas (El-Mogharbel 90+4), Smith; Howard (Vukoje 71), Gard (Oluwatimilehin 79), Ufuah (Reynolds 90+3); Azeez (Akanbi 86). Subs not used: None.

Goalscorers: Azeez (44 pen), Howard (59), Smith (77), Ufuah (90+2)
Yellow cards: Gunner (62 foul), Howard (66 delay of restart), Azeez (76 simulation), Akanbi (89 delay of restart)

Referee: Timothy Schietoma
Assistants: Phil Chaykin and Robert Maris

Attendance: 525

Images courtesy of Romana Rule