There was an attritional battle in the heart of Kent as Faversham Town and Welling United could not be separated in their FA Cup First Qualifying Round tie.
As might have been expected in a derby, both teams battled fiercely and there were times that the game threatened to boil over but neither side really did enough to win it and they will meet again at Park View Road on Tuesday evening.
It was a dream start for the Wings when they went ahead in the second minute. Kaan Bennett beat the offside trap and kept his cool when squaring for Nahum Melvin-Lambert to slot home from six yards out.
Josh Strouts had the hosts’ first goal attempt with a free kick that he planted straight into the side netting to the wrong side of the near post, however, opportunities were few and far between with the main talking points being a couple of flashpoints that petered out after a little pushing and shoving.
Half time was approaching when Welling’s two wide players, Demaray Anyadike and Fumnaya Shomotun, exchanged wings and the former’s cross was cleared as far as the latter. He collected it and cut in before firing over.
On the stroke of half time, Eniye Amgbaduba got on the end of a Jack Steventon long throw but couldn’t get over it and it flew over.
After the break Amgbaduba hit a fierce drive that Mackenzie Foley did well to turn over then the Welling goalkeeper palmed down and collected a Jack Evans free kick.
Just over an hour was on the clock when Welling came close to adding a second goal. In a role reversal from their early success, Melvin-Lambert created an opening for Bennett and his shot came back out off the base of the upright.
Both managers made substitutions and two Welling replacements combined to try and create an opportunity when Troy Howard and Ade Azeez demonstrated their undestanding. However, Faversham goalkeeper Tom Hadler did superbly to intercept his cut back that would have given Bennett a tap in. Then one of the hosts’ substitutes, Kane Haysman, played in Strouts and Foley got down well to smother as the hosts midfielder tried to go round him.
Nathan Wood had an effort with the outside of his boot that Foley saved easily before the hosts levelled with three minutes remaining. Kieron Campbell, another Faversham replacement, found space on the edge of the area and fired through a sea of legs towards the bottom corner. Although Foley got a hand to it at full stretch, he couldn’t keep it out.
Deep into stoppage time, Wood created an opportunity for Josh Ajayi but his effort flashed well over.
Now the two teams will meet again at Welling to determine who proceeds to the Second Qualifying Round.
Faversham Town: Hadler; Hare, Steventon (Allen 68), Hudson, Parter (Kwayie 78); Fagg; Wood, Evans, Strouts (Ajayi 90+2); Olutade (Campbell 78), Amgbaduba (62). Sub not used: Newman, Diamond.
Goalscorers: Campbell (87)
Yellow card: Strouts (27 foul)
Welling United: Foley; Ramsay (Otseh-Taiwo 76), Bertram-Cooper, Majoyegbe, Arthur; Blackman (Reynolds 76), Miller-Rodney (Smith 68); Anyadike, Bennett, Shomotun (Howard 58); Melvin-Lambert (Azeez 68). Subs not used: None.
Goalscorer: Melvin-Lambert (2)
Yellow card: Howard (86 foul)
Referee: Michael Scott
Assistants: William Walton and Ismail Isik
Attendance: 483
Images courtesy of Chris Zimmerman