WELLING UNITED 1 v 2 CROYDON ATHLETIC

Gary Noel made it 20 goals for the season as his double helped Croydon Athletic beat Welling 2-1 in the London Senior Cup third round on Tuesday night.

The Rams reached the final of the competition last year and are already through to the quarter finals, where they will play Haringey Borough, Fisher Athletic or Cray Wanderers.

With new signings Chris Bourne and Ben Lewis putting in solid displays at the back, and the Rams’ attacking duo of Scott Forrester and Ben Godfrey looking strong, Welling looked the second best team at the start of the match.

There were good chances for Godfrey after winning the ball in midfield and shooting just wide in the 12th minute, and Forrester’s shot on the turn also went just past the post. In the 17th minute a good cross in from Bourne was met in the box by Godfrey, and his header thundered against the post.

The post again saved Welling in the 36th minute from a long range shot from 40 yards by Bentley Graham.

With Croydon Athletic taking every opportunity to get shots in, there were further long range shots from Rory Hill and Bourne that skimmed the post.

At the other end Ross Flitney pulled off a good save from a Welling free kick, and a further chance for Joe Howe for the Rams again went close.

The Rams continued their pressure and with substitutions made for the second half it was Dan Moody’s cross in for half time substitute Gary Noel that finally put the away side ahead, with Croydon’s top goalscorer making no mistake in the 52nd minute.

Welling began to push forward for the equaliser, with Flitney getting down to deny Welling’s Jake Hobbs in the 67th minute, only for the striker to level the scores in the 74th minute with a well taken 20 yard strike.

However Croydon were not finished, and Noel got the winning goal in the 78th minute when he found space in the box. As the match drew to a close, Moody had an 18-yard belter but the crossbar denied him the goal.

A great performance by the whole Rams’ squad round up a good week for Tim O’Shea with two victories in four days. Croydon Athletic: Ross Flitney, Joe Howe, Chris Bourne, Danny Waldren, Ben Lewis, Jeremy Williams, Tom Bolarinwa, Bentley Graham (Richard Blackwell, 75), Scott Forrester, Ben Godfrey (Gary Noel, 46), Rory Hill (Dan Moody, 46) Subs not used: Nathan Green, Neil Smith.