A warm September Saturday afternoon found me meeting a friend, to watch a Kent County Football League Premier Division fixture between Welling Park and Chipstead at Oxford Road, Sidcup.

Welling Park’s home ground is set in Sidcup, South-east London. The ground boasts a covered grandstand, a grass pitch, with a huge slope and a clubhouse with bar and refreshment facilities. There are good covered standing areas on both sides of the ground and the club is set in attractive surroundings.

After five league matches Chipstead sat top of the league coming into the match, with a bank holiday Monday win 2-6 away at Tenterden FC behind them. Striker Paul Lee has already plundered six goals in his five Chipstead matches, including a hat-trick in the Tenterden match. Tom Borders has three goals from the same number of games.

Welling Park sat in fourteenth spot, with one win, one draw and two defeats from their opening four games. Their defence is strong, having conceded just six goals in those matches, but they would have come into this fixture relying heavily on top scorer, Douane West, to add to his existing tally of four goals, in order to give them a chance of winning today. Unfortunately the team line ups weren’t available today online or at the ground, so I am unable to name any players in this report.

In the second minute Welling Park went a goal ahead, when a headed back pass was latched upon and fired home by the Welling Park centre forward.

On 43 minutes, after a half of open play, which saw good chances created for both teams, it was 2-0 to Welling Park. A mazy run down the right wing by Welling Park’s Number 11, saw the final shot slotted neatly across the keeper and into the opposite corner of the goal. The right winger caused problems for the Chipstead defence throughout the match, with some skilful and pacy running.

An on pitch melee erupted on the stroke of half time. Players began arguing and pushing each other after a challenge ignited a disagreement. The officials worked well to calm the situation before the sides went in, with Welling Park leading 2-0 at the break.

The second half opened with an immediate response from Chipstead when a Welling Park defender sliced the ball into his own net, leaving the ball to float agonisingly over the head of the Welling Park goalkeeper, making the score 2-1.

The game really sparked into life again at that point and both teams threw themselves into the battle. A late challenge on the Welling Park keeper by Chipstead’s number 8 saw him sent off on 60 minutes as the referee judged it dangerous. Chipstead FC had to reorganise, to play for the final third with ten men.

In the 75th minute Chipstead FC overcame the ten man curse to draw level. A corner saw the ball finally stabbed home on the third attempt to make the score 2-2.

Again both sides went hard at it, to secure a winner and on 89 minutes an error left Chipstead’s forwards chasing the ball tenaciously to then create a winning chance for a goal to make the score 2-3. The away side’s “never say die” attitude saw them secure all three points and sustain their place at the top of the Kent County League Premier Division.

Welling Park players were rightly disappointed that after having a two goal lead and despite playing some attractive and attacking football, they came away with nothing. If they play this well consistently the home side will surely push their way up the league this season.