Recap

Report

The Peacocks grafted to earn a well-earned point from a scrappy game in Kent, their second successive draw in the National League. Whilst anything gained on the road may be considered beneficial, there was an air of muted frustration that had Town made more of their possession in the final quarter after Welling had seen a man dismissed then their second away win this season could have resulted. The home side meanwhile racked up their third game unbeaten but played much better when they had lost at Wordsworth Drive earlier in the season. It’s a funny old game.

The Taunton side reverted to a more familiar look from the midweek cup struggle against Bridgwater, with captain Nick Grimes returning at the back along with Nat Jarvis, Zac Bell and Zac Smith. However, the Wings, buoyed by wins over Hemel Hempstead and Hampton & Richmond in the past week, were the team which were quickest out the blocks. Only 35 seconds were on the clock when Cameron Green’s cross was met by Tristan Abrahams’ flying header which flew over. An Abrahams cross then flashed across goal before Antony Papadopoulos moved inside to fire wide from the edge of the box.

After seeing out this early flurry from the hosts, Town began to ask some questions themselves but in keeping with the theme of the 90 minutes, chances were hard to come by. Grimes rifled a free kick off the wall after Jarvis had been pulled down and then another set piece, this time taken by Lloyd James, was played short to Smith whose drive into the box was blocked and then bizarrely cleared back into the danger zone by a home defender, Ollie Chamberlain also seeing his effort hit a Wings man.

The momentum was swinging in favour of the visitors as the half drifted towards its conclusion. Smith’s whipped cross was steered wide by the head of Grimes before the clearest opening arose just before the interval. Grimes’ deep pass picked out Bell on the right and his first-time cross fell invitingly for Smith who failed to get full throttle into his shot as he stroked it to keeper Reice Charles-Cook. Bell’s long throw, a welcome addition to the Peacocks’ weaponry, then led to momentary panic stations for Welling, the ball pinging around the box with Rabby Tabu Minzamba seeing a shot blocked before Charles-Cook eventually claimed.

In similar fashion to the first period, the second half started off with the hosts on the front foot. Adam Roscrow fired high and wide after the ball broke to him in the 18 yard box before the Wings’ striker missed a good chance to break the stalemate, dragging a shot wide from a central position although by his reaction it suggests the effort took a deflection. A speedy break down the left from Abrahams then saw his centre across goal just whizz in front of Roscrow while Green delivered another cross which again failed to get a touch as it flew across the face.

The visitors responded with a Smith free kick which struck the wall and a soft Jarvis header from James’ free kick but Welling continued to hold the upper hand, pressing Dan Lavercombe into action twice around the hour, firstly snaffling the ball as Abrahams connected before producing a brilliant save to tip over Green’s angled strike following Will Wood’s cross.

Town soon made their first switch, Callum Dolman replacing Louie Slough, as the Wings continued getting crosses into the mix, with one wicked delivery from Wood leading to futile penalty appeals after Roscrow went down before the complexion of the contest changed after 73 minutes. Dominic Odusanya went in high on Dolman and referee Bloxham had no hesitation in reaching for the red card. From then on Town began to enjoy the bulk of possession without carving out a clear chance. Smith laid off Bell’s cross to Cameron Evans whose cross-shot was plucked out the air by Charles-Cook as it looked destined for the far corner and when Ross Stearn took over from Jarvis with two minutes remaining the substitution nearly paid immediate dividends. Stearn brought down Bell’s cross to turn and see his strike palmed away by Charles-Cook and cleared for a corner. It was now all Taunton as they searched for that elusive goal. A Grimes diagonal pass located Smith and when his shot was parried by Charles-Cook it rebounded back off the surprised Stearn, only for the Welling keeper to react smartly and hold. A last ditch shout for a penalty after Stearn went down just inside the box during five minutes of added time found no agreement with the official to leave it goalless on the final whistle. A merited point but the Peacocks will be well aware that draws must start evolving into wins to prevent the trapdoor from looming ever larger.

Line-Ups

Taunton: Dan Lavercombe, Zac Bell, Nick Grimes (captain), Dan Ball, Ollie Chamberlain, Lloyd James, Nat Jarvis (Ross Stearn 88), Rabby Tabu Minzamba, Zac Smith, Cameron Evans, Louie Slough (Callum Dolman 61). Unused subs: Marley Rose, Evander Grubb

Welling: Reice Charles-Cook, Crossley Lema, Cameron Green, Joe Ellul, Anthony Grant (captain), Will Wood (Josh Johnson 79), Dominic Odusanya, Adam Roscrow (Mbunya Alemanji 70), Tristan Abrahams (Jason Adigun 75), Anthony Papadopoulos, Lachlan Byrd. Unused subs: Luke Holness, Jack Burchell

Officials

Referee: Jack Bloxham (St Albans)
Referee’s Assistant 1: Nick Blogg (Horsham)
Referee’s Assistant 2: Bogdan Khimych (London)

Attendance

484

Reaction

” Really proud of those lads tonight, put in a hell of a shift ………” watch Rob Dray’s match reaction on Peacocks TV HERE

Highlights

Match highlights courtesy of Welling United FC can be seen HERE

Photos

Match photos from Club Photographer Debbie Gould can be viewed HERE

Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance MOM

Nat Jarvis receives the Taunton Town Man Of The Match award from Peacocks’ coach driver Hayley Kerslake