Welling United lifted the 2025 Kent Senior Cup thanks to a 23rd minute Josh Redfearn goal and although Fleet hit the woodwork several times in the first half and saw another chance cleared off the line, the Wings held on to win the competition for the first time in 16 years.
Josh Wright named a strong side as promised, with Rakish Bingham and Dominic Poleon starting up front and Tyler Cordner returning in defence.
Cheered on by a great showing of travelling fans at Priestfield Stadium, the Fleet started this final strongly and could have been ahead very early. That chance came from the boot of George Moncur with just five minutes on the clock. His free-kick in a similar position to the one he converted at Aldershot sailed over the Welling wall and rattled the woodwork.
Moments later as Fleet continued to look energetic in attack, Poleon found himself one on one with Rhys Lovett and although he dinked his effort over the goalkeeper, Max Statham arrived to clear off the line.
Former loanee Jez Davies was announced as a Welling United player earlier in the week and he sent one wide on 12 minutes as Welling began to grow into the game a little more and their attacks down the flanks kept the Fleet defence on their toes.
But Fleet still looked much more likely to score and Moncur hit the woodwork once again, this time with an excellent curling shot from the edge of the area.
But somewhat against the run of play, it was the Wings who found the breakthrough when they seized possession from a Fleet error and Davies and Redfearn linked up well, allowing the Welling No.23 to carry on his run and fire past Felix Goddard with 23 minutes on the clock.
The Fleet looked for an instant response and Poleon was ever so unlucky to only clip the outside of the post with one effort and then his second chance in two minutes brushed the top of the netting following an acrobatic overhead effort.
Rakish Bingham had a run and shot on goal before the energetic Ryan Carr’s determination almost got him through on goal when he robbed a Welling defender inside his own box.
But neither side could match the end-to-end nature of the opening half-hour in the final 15 minutes of the half and Welling held on through to the break.
After half-time, the Fleet never really got going enough to get at Welling who sat deep and soaked up the pressure in midfield.
Carr was still busy in the middle and Chapman a willing runner on the right but chances were few as the minutes ticked away.
Goddard saved well from Martell Taylor-Crossdale when Welling did look to extend their lead but any drive and spark Fleet tried to build up came to a halt in the final third.
A long stoppage saw substitute Franklin Domi stretchered off after he bravely threw himself into a tackle on Finn Ballard-McBride and the Fleet tried to go up a gear in the final 20 minutes as they continued to keep possession. Poleon just couldn’t find the back of the net, his 90th minute effort that ricocheted off the crossbar again wouldn’t have stood as he was offside and the same was true of Redfearn’s last-minute shot past Goddard that was offside as well.
EUFC: Goddard, O’Neill, Cordner (Manktelow 46), Olagunju, Aoraha (Bolger 53), Chapman, Carr, Moncur, Cundle (Domi 53, Anthony 70), Bingham (Cosgrave 68), Poleon.
WUFC: Lovett, Statham, Quick, Bramble, Davies (Kashket 90), H Walker, Z Walker (Kamara 39), Taylor-Crossdale (Briscoe 78), Ballard-McBride (Cornish 66), Di Trolio, Redfearn. Subs not used: Moore.
Attendance: 1,132
Photos: ©EUFC: Ed Miller
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