Saturday 19th November 2005	Nationwide Conference South	Stephen McCartney reports from  Park View Road
Welling United	2	Che Stadhart 30 Daniel Moore 80
Lewes	1	Leon Legge 73

Twice award winning Welling United manager Adrian Pennock admitted Matt Bodkin should be playing at a higher level after the former Gillingham striker produced something special to win this vital top three clash at Park View Road today, writes Stephen McCartney. This deserved victory sees the Kent side leap frog over Lewes into second place in the Nationwide Conference South table, just one point behind St Albans City, and they can go top with victory at Basingstoke Town on Tuesday night. Picking up the ball in midfield on the right, with ten minutes to go, Bodkin left the visiting defenders in his wake, cut inside the penalty area and his pin-point cross was met at the far post by fellow substitute Daniel Moore, who powered home his header into the far corner to score his first goal of the season. Speaking in the post match press conference, Pennock expressed his delight of Bodkin's performance to www.kentishfootball.co.uk: "The boy's got so much pace and ability," he said.  "He's come here and done really well and he's knuckling down. "He's been hit pillar to post to be honest with you, but we've got hold of him and he's enjoying his football. "He's smiling in the dressing room, but that's what we want from him. "If he does that week in, week out, he won't be here much longer because the boy's got so much ability and he's really enjoying his football and that's what I want from our players." Pennock, who picked up his second successive Nationwide Conference South manager of the month award today, and ten-goal striker Danny Kedwell picking up the player of the month accolade, the Wings went on to tear apart their visitors from East Sussex during the first half and it should have been more than 1-0 at the break. Former Margate midfielder Mark Green found the side netting early on and Wing's defender Chris Moore should have scored with two headers that flew over following two Matt Carruthers' corners after eleven and 36 minutes. Former Dover Athletic star, Carruthers' right-footed free kick from the edge of the penalty area clipped the crossbar before going out for a goal kick after Lewes defender Dean Hopper escaped with just a booking after a deliberate handball. But the pressure finally told as former Margate striker Che Stadhart scored his second goal of the season on the half-hour mark. Carruthers' corner - Welling's fourth of the game - was flicked on by Lee Shearer and Stadhart was on hand to power home a header past Paul Wilkerson from close range. And on the stroke of half-time, the Lewes goalkeeper parried Carruthers' left-footed shot but managed to smother the ball before Rob Owen could pounce. Lewes' first half chances, however, were never going to trouble Welling goalkeeper Jamie Turner, and former Bromley winger Kirk Watts suffered an injury just before the break and was replaced by Mo Harkin. Steve King's side were much better in the second half and after free flowing passing, Jay Lovett's cross from the left was driven wide of the far post by Leon Legge after 58 minutes. Then came another three good chances for the East Sussex outfit.  Jefferson Louis' headed Dean Brennan's corner wide; Owen Price latched onto Brennan's through ball but blazed over and Turner pulled off a fine save from Price's low 40-yard drive. So it was no shock when Lewes equalised with 17 minutes left when Legge came up from his defensive duties to power home a header past Turner from Brennan's flag kick. A minute before their stunning winning goal, Leon Solomon played in Jamie Day but the Welling midfielder fired wide of the far post. Welling were thankful for their goalkeeper when he produced fine saves from another long range low drive from Price, and from a Legge header but he was relieved to see Louis' header drop just wide of the far post. But Pennock was pleased with his side collecting their ninth league win of the season and within touching distance of St Albans City. "It's nice to get the reward but I thought today's game was really good," he said. "We played some really good football.  Maybe at half-time we could have been five or six nil, we had so many chances and again we just couldn't score. "All credit to the boys.  They're a good team, they've spent big on the wages side of things and we've competed and we thoroughly deserved the three points." Pennock - who handed right-back Luke Howell, whose on loan from Gillingham, his debut today - admitted his central defensive partners Lee Shearer and Chris Moore were "outstanding," and looks ahead to their next two games - at Basingstoke Town. After Tuesday's league game at the Camrose, Pennock's side return for a FA Trophy third qualifying round tie next Saturday, 26th November. But Pennock wants to win them both.  "Tuesday is a massive game for us and to be honest with you I find that bigger than the cup game," he admitted. "But there is money to be won in the Trophy so it will be nice to get two wins. "Like I've said before, any game I play, albeit tiddlywinks or  the Kent Senior Cup, I want to win every game no matter what team I put out."

Welling United: Jamie Turner, Luke Howell, Leon Solomon, Rob Owen, Chris Moore (Capt), Lee Shearer, Mark Green (Daniel Moore 68), Danny Kedwell (Matt Bodkin 52), Che Stadhart, Jamie Day.  Subs: Matt Lee, Darren Ibrahim (GK) Lewes: Paul Wilkerson, Dean Hooper, Jay Lovett, Paul Kennett (Capt, Max Ellison-Hustwick 82), Steve Robinson, Leon Legge, Owen Price, Dean Brennan, Jefferson Louis, Jean-Michel Sigere, Kirk Watts (Mo Harkin 45).  Subs: Karl Beckford, Morgaro Gomis, Djoumin Sangare Attendance: 713 Referee: Mr S Fay (Luton) Assistants: Mr M Rogers (Gillingham) & Mr C Ledgeway (Benfleet)