It took a penalty shoot-out to decide the FA Cup Trophy Third Qualifying Round tie between Welling United and Chertsey Town at the Wings’ Anthony Martin Community Stadium.
Although Ryan Maxwell’s team were the better side in the second period, it took a fifth minute of stoppage time equaliser to keep their hopes alive. However, their dreams were dashed when the visitors converted all five of their spot kicks after the Wings’ had missed their second effort.
In the opening exchanges, Nathan Minhas stabbed over from close range for Chertsey when he got on the end of Leo Farruch’s delivery. Lekan Majoyegbe headed Welling’s first sight of goal wide then Gary Abisogun couldn’t get enough bend on his shot to hit the target at the other end. Wayne Ridgley fired well over from thirty yards out for the visitors before Sam Smith dragged a shot wide for the Wings.
Fifteen minutes had passed when the Curfews went ahead. Farruch’s run allowed him to make space to pull it back and Abisogun showed great technique when firing home.
Looking for a quick response, Nathan Bertram-Cooper had an effort blocked on the line before Minhas had another opening but hit it softly and Welling debutant goalkeeper Phil Ogayi saved easily.
Eleven minutes before half time, the Wings levelled. Smith’s cross was flicked on by Ade Azeez and Majoyegbe forced it home from close range.
That lifted Welling and they had another good opportunity when Azeez headed on Ogayi’s long pass forward to send Fumnaya Shomotun clear. Although his shot was accurate, it did not have enough power and Luke Roberts was able to get down and stretch to palm it round the post. Smith sent a free kick well over before Farruch drew an easy save out of Ogayi.
Maxwell made a double change at the break with Tyrell Miller-Rodney and Kaan Bennett replacing Smith and Ryan Kingsford, and Welling took control. Shomotun had a powerful shot tipped over acrobatically by Roberts and the Chertsey goalkeeper made an even better save to deny Bennett.
Ryan Blackman then sent Azeez through but he chose to try and go round Roberts rather than slot it past him. The goalkeeper got a touch to push it away and when the Welling striker retrieved it, he could only strike it over.
They continued to press, but went behind with eleven minutes remaining when a Jamie Reynolds corner was cleared and Ridgley broke away. He burst into the Welling half and hit a fierce drive that got stuck in the stanchion of the goal-frame, reminiscent of Trevor Brooking’s goal for England in Budapest, Hungary in 1981.
Demaray Anyadike’ hit an inviting low centre across the face of goal and it just needed a touch from a Welling player to level. However, they weren’t done there and they equalised in the fifth minute of stoppage time. Zak O’Keefe hurled in a long throw, Chertsey struggled to clear, and Majoyegbe fired home.
Although Reynolds, Shomotun, Nahum Melvin-Lambert and Bennett were all successful from the spot, O’Keefe missed and Connor Lee converted Chertsey’s fifth to confine the Wings to back-to-back knockout competition exits.
Welling United: Ogayi; O’Keefe, Majoyegbe, Bertram-Cooper, Reynolds; Blackman (Maragh 87); Smith (Miller-Rodney 46); Howard (Anyadike 58), Kingsford (Bennett 46), Shomotun; Azeez (Melvin-Lambert 69). Subs not used: None.
Goalscorers: Majoyegbe (34), (90+5)
Yellow cards: Kingsford (12 delay of restart), Blackman (66 foul)
Chertsey Town: Roberts; Olorunfemi, Byrd, Harrison, Lee; Ridgley (Lodge 87), Farruch; Abisogun (Kamara 64), Bowerman, Grant (Wilson 67); Minhas (Robertson 74). Sub not used: Lodge.
Goalscorers: Abisogun (16), Ridgley (79)
Yellow cards: Grant (49 foul), Ridgley (54 delay of restart), Wilson (84 delay of restart), Lee (86 foul)
Referee: Grant Steele
Assistants: Mitchell Rolfe and Stephen Dadds
Attendance: 614
Images courtesy of Chris Zimmerman