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Saturday 13 December 2003 - Park View Road - kick off 2.56pm Dr Martens Premier Division 
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| half-time: 0-1 | result: L1-2 | attendance: 502 |
| team: | Northmore, Coupe, Jenkins. Jones (c), Trought, Milton (Rollo 60), Hawkins, Owers, Cleverley (Jeffries 67), Eaton, Carter. subs not used: Bryant, Howarth, Shore. |
| man of the match: | Darren Hawkins |
| scorers: | Hawkins (75 pen) |
| bookings: | Rollo (67), Coupe (76), Jenkins (86), Jeffries (90) |
| officials: | P Faulkner, M Jarvis, J Pope |
| league position: 22nd | form: LWWLWL | next match: Crawley (A) |
Desperate for something to kick-start their season City were left frustrated once again as they came within an inch of a stunning goal that would have earned them a deserved point against Welling United. Despite dominating the game for long periods City had given themselves a mountain to climb by conceding two goals at vital times. A penalty, converted by debutant youngster Darren Hawkins, with 15 minutes remaining had given them a glimmer of hope and it was the same player who came so near to grabbing an incredible stoppage time equaliser. When he collected the ball just inside the Wings half there looked to be little danger. He had other ideas though and fired an daring 45 yard effort toward goal. Home keeper Kelly could only watch as the shot flew over his head and dipped toward the net. However, the line that separates success from failure was less then the width of a crossbar as the ball hit the underside of said bar and bounced down onto the line. It may even have crossed the line but with the officials understandably half a pitch away and Welling’s poor floodlights hardly illuminating proceedings City were never likely to benefit from a lucky decision and their long search for a league win continued.
This wasn’t the only decision that left City feeling hard done by (more on that later) but they also had themselves to blame as at times they gave United the run around only to fail to turn this dominance into goals. With Steve Jenkins restored to the starting line-up after suspension and Hawkins and Ryan Northmore handed debuts in place of Jim Rollo and Mark Bryant, City opted to play a 4-4-2 formation. This looked the correct decision as they started strongly. Captain Steve Jones volleyed a 2nd minute opening wide and Alfie Carter got on to the end of a Matt Coupe cross only to fail to test Kelly. The keeper was called into action on five minutes, easily gathering Jenkins shot. The best opening fell to player-manager Gary Owers a minute later. He won the ball in midfield and exchanged passes with Jason Eaton but disappointing dragged his final effort well wide. This signalled the end of this opening flurry, although Owers did fire another shot straight at Kelly after 13 minutes and Danny Cleverley just failed to reach a low Hawkins cross, as Welling slowly began to gain a foothold in the game. Riviere shot wide from the edge of the box and a corner dropped kindly for Berkeley but he shot weakly allowing Northmore to easily gather. Chances were arriving at both ends now – Kelly saving a deflected Carter shot and Jones clearing a Strouts’ header off the line. Fours minutes from the interval Eaton wasted a great opportunity when Coupe’s cross picked him out. He had the goal at his mercy but could only loop a header into the arms of Kelly. A goal then would have been no less than City deserved but instead, 30 seconds into stoppage time they found themselves trailing. Booth broke away down the right flank and his cross was turned in at the neat post by Collins.
The second half began with City struggling to recapture their form of the first period although Hawkins did bring another smart stop out of Kelly with a well-struck drive. Just as it appeared City were beginning to get their game together again and push Welling back they conceded a second goal. Again it was Booth who created the goal from the right. He drove in another low centre that Northmore could only push into the path of Riviere who made no mistake from eight yards out. Cleverley was replaced by Josh Jeffries and Carter and Hawkins were pushed up alongside Eaton as City looked for an unlikely way back into the game. Rollo saw a sharp shot fly wide and Owers header was turned away for a corner by Kelly. Finally City got a break on 75 minutes when a weak back pass was latched onto by Hawkins. He knocked it past Kelly only for the keeper to pull him to the ground. A clear penalty and a mandatory red card. Well, not entirely. The referee did point to the spot, which Hawkins got up to convert with ease, but incredibly the keeper only received a caution. Coupe was booked for pointing out the official’s incompetence a little too strongly but City did not let it affect them and they threw everything they could at the Kent side. Kelly made the most of his fortunate reprieve by denying Jeffries. He could have done nothing though had the same player got his header from Coupe’s free-kick on target with three minutes remaining. And even after Hawkins memorable effort Eaton could still have levelled the game. He got on the end of a Jeffries cross but glanced a header wide and with it City’s hope of a last gasp lift.