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Welling United caretaker manager Jamie Turner praises his players' spirit in the 1-1 draw at Ebbsfleet United

Welling started life after Jamie Day with a performance which delighted their caretaker bosses.

Following the appointment of Day as Ebbsfleet's new manager on Wednesday, Wings captain Jake Gallagher and goalkeeper Jamie Turner were put in temporary charge.

They saw Kieron St Aimie put their side ahead in Saturday's FA Trophy tie at Ebbsfleet - Day watched from the stand - before defender Joe Taylor was shown a straight red card.

Fleet equalised from the resulting free-kick and Welling had to hold on with 10 men in the second half.

Turner said: "We dug in. We knew it was going to be tough. Everyone put in a shift. They had their chances but Benji (Buchel) in goal played absolutely fantastic, as did the back-four. We all stood up as men today.

Sam Corne stops Anthony Cook in his tracks Picture: Andy Payton
Sam Corne stops Anthony Cook in his tracks Picture: Andy Payton

"A lot of clubs I know would go down to 10 men, lose a goal like we did and buckle, probably go on to lose 4-1. But we didn’t and that’s testament to the boys.

"They did it for themselves, did it for the team and did it for the club. I’m really proud of them all.

Taylor's sending-off, for his challenge on Dean Rance, was the main talking point after the game.

"I can’t change the referee’s decision," Turner said. "But I’ve seen it on the video, five or six times, and they both went in awkwardly.

"For the first three or four seconds afterwards, he wasn’t going to give anything and obviously their reaction might have changed his mind. I believe it did change his mind."

Fleet caretaker boss Daryl McMahon said: "It’s hard to see from over here (the dugouts) but our lads did say he went in two-footed. You see them given, you see them not."

Turner continued: "Up until the sending-off, I wouldn’t say we were comfortable because I know they had a few chances, but I felt really confident that we could go and get a result. We went 1-0 up but the sending-off was massive and straight after the sending-off, we conceded.

"Looking at it, before the sending-off, we looked like we could go on for the win."

Turner and Gallagher will continue in caretaker charge for the replay unless Welling appoint their new manager in the meantime.

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