Welling v Dartford

Report

Joe Brophy

Alfie Pavey came off the bench to give Dartford a late Christmas present as his stunning volley ensured all three points in the National League South derby at Park View Road.

Welling’s 87th minute penalty seemed to earn them a share of the points after the Darts threw away a 2-0 lead but the traveling Darts were not to be denied.

In a similar fashion to their poor start at Chelmsford, the home side soon found themselves behind again

Ryan Hayes’ superb cross from the right was met by ex-Wings striker Andy Pugh who returned to haunt his old club with an assured finish from close range on three minutes.

Dartford were displaying an early dominance and should have been out of sight.

Pugh wasting a glorious header after another combination with Hayes was the let off Welling needed.

Bradley Goldberg’s snapshot trickled just wide before Deren Ibrahim had to turn behind Olu Durojaiye’s long-range effort.

The warning signs were there and Welling almost equalised through Nanetti whose cross-shot came off Tom Bonner but fortunately rebounded off the post to safety.

Nanetti then had a strong claim for a penalty waved away after going down under a clumsy challenge from Hayes but the official waved away the appeals in a let off for the Darts.

All Welling’s dominance was almost undone from a mistake by left-back Ben Jefford who allowed Hayes in at the other end, but his shot lacked a cutting edge and it didn’t test Sandford.

On the stroke of half-time an in-swinging cross by Nanetti caused havoc in the Darts backline, being met by Goldberg whose volley was sensationally beaten away by Ibrahim from close-range.

The team-talk at half time seemed to reenergise the Darts as it only took ten minutes for them to double their lead.

Hayes picking up a loose ball in the box before sending in a low cross that Pugh turned home from close range for his second.

Danny Mills nearly made it three two minutes later when he beat the offside trap, but his audacious lob came back out of the underside of the bar to deny him a stunning goal.

Welling kept themselves in the game however and missed a golden opportunity to pull one back with 21 minutes to go as Ibrahim spilled Callum Driver’s long-range shot, but Ian Gayle somehow blasted the rebound over the bar from five yards.

Welling were not to be denied for too much longer though as their efforts were finally rewarded in the 77th minute when Driver’s inch-perfect free-kick from 20 yards rose over the wall and out of the reach of a diving Ibrahim.

The momentum instantly swung in favour of the hosts and they were level three minutes later.

Skipper Elliot Bradbrook fouled his brother Tom, who had come on at half-time, in the box and Monakana made no mistake to slot home the spot-kick.

Just when it seemed the Darts had thrown it away, another substitute stepped up to add an even later twist to the tale.

A half-cleared ball bounced in the area and was met by Pavey who produced a future goal of the season contender with a spectacular right-footed volley to spark scenes of jubilation.

 

Welling: Sandford, Driver, Jefford, Durojjaiye, Gayle, Parkinson, Monakana, Dymond, Romain, Goldberg (Bradbrook 46mins), Nanetti.
Subs not used: Jebb, Francis, Phipps, Johnson.

Dartford: Ibrahim, Harris, Onyemah, Bonner, Vint, Collier, Hayes (Della-Verde 67mins), Bradbook, Mills (Sho-Silva 90mins), Pugh, Murphy (Pavey 76mins),
Subs not used: Brown, Coxall.

Attendance: 1,401.