Saturday 13th November 2004	Nationwide South	Stephen McCartney reports from Park View Road
Welling United	3	James Smith 10 George Lay 29 Jamie Day 53
Sutton United	2	Glenn Boosey 4 Lewis Gonsalves 72

It's a beautiful Day for Welling

WELLING United climbed off the bottom of the Nationwide South table with a deserved and hungry victory over fellow strugglers Sutton United at a chilly Park View Road today.

Paul Parker's side have been rooted to the foot of the table since the 30th August, but an impressive first half showing, despite going a goal down early in the game, warmed their suffering fans who were able to celebrate their first home league success at the ninth attempt.

There were also firsts for Jamie Smith and George Lay, netting their first goals of the season and former Dover Athletic man Jamie Day found the net for the second time this campaign.

The Wings moved level on points with their opponents and climb above Maidenhead United and St Albans City in the table and fans hope their side have turned the corner in time for next weekend's trip to Carshalton Athletic.

After a shocking display in midweek - Welling slumped to a 2-0 home defeat to Dartford in the Kent Senior Cup - it was important they got off to a good start.

However, Sutton had other ideas and took a deserved lead after only 194 seconds.

Wings skipper, Lew Watts, who played 76 minutes against the Darts, was shook off the ball by Eddie Akuamoah some 25-yards from goal, and the former Kingstonian and Bromley striker slipped the ball to Glenn Boosey.  He received the ball just inside the box before going on and sliding the ball under debutant goalkeeper Charlie Mitten, finding the bottom far corner from eight yards.

The 30-year-old goalkeeper, signed last week from Conference neighbours Gravesend & Northfleet, went on to make an impressive debut.

Welling, however,  equalised in the tenth minute to lift the gloom hanging over Park View Road.

A short corner on the left hand side was played to Day whose cross was met by James Smith and the former Cambridge United central defender sent a looping header into the far corner.

Four minutes later, Mitten, who has played only one competitive game this season, for Gravesend & Northfleet at Barnet, was alert pushing Boosey's left-footed 25-yard strike over the bar.

Sutton were guilty of missing two gilt edged chances and were made to rue these misses as Wings soon took the lead.

Mitten's clearance found Matt Gray in midfield who played the ball inside to Akuamoah and after speeding past the defence he struck the ball towards the bottom far corner but Mitten got down low to his right and made a comfortable but very important save.

Two minutes later, Craig Watkins' played the ball to Boosey, who was unmarked, but his poor shot was comfortably saved.

Welling, however, punished these misses, taking a 29th minute lead.

Tommy Tyne, who played despite being ill, raced past Gray down the left hand side, almost reached the by-line and sent over a cross to the near post and Lay nipped in front of goalkeeper Phil Wilson and poked the ball home.

This sparked off a good spell from Welling and Day's right-footed 22-yard free kick went agonisingly over before Nigel Brake headed Tyne's effort off the line before Wilson flung himself to his right only to see Danny Slatter's shot go agonisingly wide.

Welling went in at the break with a deserved 2-1 lead and both goalkeepers were tested early in the second half but the Wings added their third after 52 minutes.

Day's 16-yard shot took a deflection, deceived Wilson who went down to his left only to see the ball go to his right, finding the back of the net.

Their two goal lead was still intact two minutes later as Mitten made a one handed save from a powerful shot from Boosey from a difficult angle.

Welling had two good chances to increase their lead but Day's fierce shot crashed against the top of the near post and Tyne's fierce 16-yard shot was saved.

Sutton, however, pulled a goal back with eighteen minutes left to make it a tense finale.

Lewis Gonsalves ghosted in behind the Wings defence to head across Mitten and into the far corner meeting Gray's free kick.

Another chance came Welling's way when Paul Booth latched onto Slatter's pass but was forced wide after going past the goalkeeper but his low shot lacked conviction and one of the two visiting defenders on the line were able to clear.

Welling were reduced to ten men for the final ten minutes but Sutton failed to make their numerical advantage count.

Smith, who was booked ten minutes earlier by referee Mr E Smith, was shown his second yellow card, which lead to red.  The referee signalled to the crowd the Welling defender had raised his leg as Wilson cleared the ball from his hands from the edge of the area.

However, despite 280 seconds of injury time, the Welling fans were relieved when the final whistle sounded and were able to celebrate a well deserved victory.

A relieved Wings boss Paul Parker was satisfied with the performance of his team, after asking questions off them after the Kent Senior Cup midweek defeat.

He said: "I asked questions why they let themselves down that night and we asked them if they didn't fancy it against Sutton not to turn up, because it's a tough and important must-win game.

"To be honest, I got a very good all-round team performance, up against a Sutton side who are not a bad side and are as good as a side that have been down here.

"The lads were geed up - none of them were cowards, they went out there brave and first and foremost they got three points at home, our first three points at home all season."

But had Sutton taken their two chances before the Wing's went 2-1 up, it could have been a different story - something Parker is used to this season - his side not taking their chances.

He added: "They did have two opportunities before we actually got our second but they didn't take them.

"That's been us, we don't take our chances when things are against us and teams have gone on and beaten us but today the tide turned and we got there in the end."

Welling United: Charlie Mitten, Tony Browne, Sonny Ball, James Smith (sent off 80), Lew Watts (Capt), George Lay (Shaun Hale 77), Danny Slatter, Lee Spiller, Tommy Tyne, Paul Booth, Jamie Day.  Subs: Tim Hambley, Gary Carter, Narada Bernard, Tope Arojogun

Sutton United: Phil Wilson, Matt Gray, Lewis Gonsalves, Joff Vansittart, John Scarborough (Capt), Nigel Brake, Stuart Booth, Paul Honey, Craig Watkins (Craig Howard 61), Glenn Boosey (Andrew Martin 66), Eddie Akuamoah.

Attendance: 513
Referee: Mr E Smith
Assistants: Mr S Roots & Mr G Ions