Post-Match Report

Welling United 4-1 Arsenal XI - Report

Welling -

Park View Road
Pre-season Friendly
Pre-season Friendly
  Welling
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Welling
4 1
  Arsenal U23
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Arsenal U23

By Nick Teale
 
An Arsenal XI were undone by a stylish Welling United in Saturday's pre-season trip to Park View Road.
 
The Blue Square South side were deserved victors, though the 4-1 scoreline was flattering.
 
The Gunners had taken the lead through captain Gavin Hoyte. Welling levelled midway through the first period and the hosts turned on the style after half time, adding three more to the home fans' delight.
 
Liam Brady once again took charge of the Arsenal XI and made four changes to his starting line-up from Tuesday's 2-2 draw at Crawley. Jernade Meade, Martin Angha, Chuks Aneke and Benik Afobe all came in with Cedric Evina, Ignasi Miquel, Nacer Barazite and Jay Simpson dropping to the bench.
 
Welling survived two early penalty shouts, first for a handball and the second after Afobe was bundled over.
 
In the 16th minute, Arsenal took the lead.
 
Afobe touched the ball to left-back Meade, who aimed a shot at the top corner, forcing Johan Whitehouse to tip the ball over. The resulting corner came out to Hoyte on the edge of the area and the captain cracked the ball into the roof of the net.
 
Four minutes later Loui Fazakerley hit the bar with what appeared to be an intended cross from the right and in the 24th minute Welling drew level.
 
Daniel Boateng was penalised for tripping Louis Pires just inside the area. The striker brushed himself down and rolled the penalty into the bottom right corner, sending James Shea the wrong way.
 
Both sides had a cluster of half-chances as the half progressed and in the 45th minute Welling were unlucky not to take the lead when Jamie Day rattled the bar from 20 yards.
 
Welling started brightly after the break but Shea didn't find himself overstretched until after a stream of substitutions had briefly restricted the flow of the game.
 
With 65 minutes played the Blue Square South side took the lead. Joe Healy got to the byline and cut back to Luis Cumbers at the far post. The tap-in was simple.
 
Five minutes later, the game was won.
 
Martin John unleashed a ferocious low drive, Shea scrambled to his left and parried it away but Fazakerley rushed onto the rebound and slotted home his second of the match.
 
However, Welling weren’t done yet. Daryl Murphy bagged a fourth in 73rd minute, and what a goal it was.
 
The ball hung in the air before dropping down to the substitute who fired a classy volley off his right foot into the top corner.
 
Arsenal XI played well at times, especially in the first half, and given that this was just their second pre-season match of the summer, perhaps it is no surprise that they seemed to lack that cutting edge.

Referee: I Crouch

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