I decided that I’d make my midweek game this week, a Monday night affair, so came close to home, to the Cobdown Stadium to watch the Southern Counties East Football League Development League fixture, between Welling Town and AFC Whyteleafe.

Welling Town’s Under 23 season has been slow to start, with just one victory and three defeats coming into the game.

AFC Whyteleafe’s Under 23 side have started more positively, with ten points from seven games played, to date. Ben Tilley has top scored for them with three goals in six matches.

Within five minutes of the kick off, the visitors were 0-1 ahead, when Hardy Barrie went through and slid the ball past the Welling Town keeper.

The second goal came on 35 minutes, when the ball was crossed, out of the fog, before finding its way to Essey Tedros, who finished well in the Welling Town box.

On 39 minutes it was 0-3, with Sekou Fafana virtually walking the ball into the net, as the home side found themselves all at sea, defensively.

On the stroke of half time it was 0-4, to the away side, when Ibrahima Kalil Diawara broke on the left and fired past the Welling Town keeper.

As the half time whistle went, it was AFC Whyteleafe’s coach and players who went in the happiest. The Welling Town coach knew his team had been in the game, even at 0-1 down, but just lacked the ability to break and make use of the ball, their midfield had managed to provide.

As the second half started, a thick fog hung over the Cobdown Stadium. It took time for the two teams to hit their rhythm, as the lack of visibility really stunted their passing game.

In the 55th minute, the ball was lashed home by Gaspar Mico, from the edge of the Welling Town area, although I cut filming just as the shot went in, so apologies!!

Ben Tilley made it four for the season in the 70th minute, as the score grew to 0-6 for AFC Whyteleafe.

In the 85th minute, as the blanket of fog eased a little, Sekou Fofana broke the off side trap, to slip through and finish to make it 0-7 to AFC Whyteleafe.

There was just time at the end, in the 90th minute, for AFC Whyteleafe to win a late penalty, which Dan Pacey put away clinically to make the final score Welling Town 0, AFC Whyteleafe 8.

As the team shook hands and left the pitch, they knew they had both been fully committed and provided good entertainment. AFC Whyteleafe were able to outclass their Welling Town opposition, through their ability to move the ball rapidly from box to box, while their finishing was exceptional. However, the home side can take strength from the knowledge that they continued to pass and fight throughout the game, and showed they have some strengths they can build on.