Welling United 3 Maidenhead United 2
Welling moved two points clear in Blue Square Bet South after a
dramatic turnaround on Saturday.
The Wings trailed Maidenhead 2-1 with 15 minutes remaining but
two goals, including an injury-time winner, maintained their
winning run at home.
It meant they go two points clear of Salisbury with two games in
hand after their rivals for top spot were docked a point by the
Conference on Friday for fielding an ineligible player.
Maidenhead started brightly, having already beaten Welling once
this season, and David Pratt went close to a sixth-minute opener.
Given their dominance in the opening half, it was no surprise that
Maidenhead took the lead on the stroke of half-time when Chris
Flood set up Pratt, who produced an excellent low right-foot finish
from the edge of the area.
After a 15-minute delay to the start of the second half as
referee Wayne Porter was ruled out with a calf injury, Welling
showed greater desire after the break.
Scott Kinch headed straight at keeper Billy Lumley before Ben
Martin's powerful near-post header from Jack Obersteller's corner
levelled the scores on 53 minutes.
Ross Lafayette and Kurtis Guthrie both went close before
Maidenhead responded with a good spell of pressure. Keeper Sam Mott
turned away Flood's stunning free-kick but was then left red-faced
when Harry Pritchard's right-wing corner went straight in.
Guthrie was denied by a great Lumley save and Lee Clarke,
pictured, shot over as Welling hit back. It needed another
expert Obersteller delivery to make it 2-2, however, this time
Clarke finding himself in space to head home.
Pratt then fluffed his lines at the far post with three minutes
remaining, before Mott's excellent one-handed save denied him a
winner in stoppage time. Substitute Kiernan Hughes-Mason was on
hand to clear the loose ball and deny Reece Tilson-Lascaris a
tap-in.
The turnaround was complete in the third of what was to prove
six additional minutes when Guthrie's nod down hit the back of a
Maidenhead defender and Jake Gallagher was on hand to poke home the
loose ball.
04/03/13
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