Welling United 4 Tonbridge Angels 2: Bradley Goldberg scores two goals
16:59, 26 August 2019
updated: 11:54, 27 August 2019
Two first-half goals from Bradley Goldberg set up a bank holiday derby win for Welling over Tonbridge.
Gavin McCallum and Anthony Cook also netted for the Wings while Angels replied through Ade Yusuff and a D'Sean Theobalds cracker.
Tonbridge boss Steve McKimm had made four changes to his team with keeper Jon Henly among those coming into the side.
Adam Coombes forced Henly into an early save from a free-kick before Anthony Cook's long-range strike was turned over by the Angels keeper.
The game came to life on 27 minutes when Coombes won the ball near halfway and ran at the Angels defence before sliding in Goldberg, who never looked like missing.
The lead was doubled on 35 minutes when Goldberg turned brilliantly in the box and found the far corner with a classy strike.
But two minutes before the break Angels found their way back into the contest. Welling captain Rob Swaine failed to clear Joe Turner's free-kick and Yusuff nodded in at the far post.
There was still more drama though as in five minutes of stoppage time - much of it for an injury to referee Isaac Searle - Cook delivered a free-kick into the area for McCallum to volley home.
Coombes' brilliant turn left Sonny Miles in his wake five minutes after the break but Henly turned behind his left-foot drive.
Angels went close through two free-kicks in quick succession before Welling's explosive finishing put the game beyond them.
Cook won the ball on halfway and burst forward, ignoring runners either side, before firing home an unstoppable 25-yard right-foot finish.
Henly kept the score down as he saved with his legs to deny substitute Josh Oyinsan while a great defensive block denied Aaron Cosgrave, after he'd beaten three players in the penalty area.
Theobalds scored a cracking goal from the edge of the area seven minutes from time, finding the bottom corner with keeper Dan Wilks well beaten.
Had substitute Alex Bentley found the far corner moments later it might have set up a grandstand finish. But as it was Welling were able to see out the remaining minutes in glorious sunshine.
Welling: Wilks, Ming, Anderson, Prestedge, Swaine, Rich-Baghuelou, Cook (Cosgrave 70mins), Agyemang, Goldberg, Coombes (Oyinsan 70mins), McCallum (Green 66mins). Subs not used: Okosieme, Rooney.
Tonbridge: Henly, Folkes (Derry 65mins), Parter, Brewer (Small 52mins), Miles, Bray, Da Costa (Bentley 65mins), Theobalds, Yusuff, Hession-Harris, Turner. Subs not used: McKenzie, Roberts.
Attendance: 669.