Welling open the scoring from the spot through Joe Healy Pics: Keith Gillard

by Matthew Panting

A Joe Healy penalty and an own goal ensured 10-man Welling avoided an early FA Cup exit on Wednesday night.

The Wings must have feared the worst when player-manager Jamie Day was sent-off after a two-footed tackle in the 24th minute.

But the Wings managed to progress to a third qualifying round tie at home to Thurrock on October 6.

The tone was set for a fiery evening at Park View Road when Concord full-back Danny Glozier was booked for a late challenge on Theo Fairweather-Johnson after 10 minutes.

Referee Nigel Lugg managed to get most decision right, however, including the dismissal of Day (pictured right), who appeared to go in two-footed despite winning the ball.

Welling took the lead just four minutes after Day was dimissed. Jack Obersteller’s free-kick had sufficient pace and direction to cause problems and Steve King turned the ball past his own keeper.

A fine one-handed save by Wings keeper Jamie Turner denied Jerome Walker an instant equaliser while Ross Lafayette missed a good chance to make it 2-0 at the other end.

After the break, Harry Baker and Lafayette combined to set up Obersteller but his finish failed to match the build-up.

Concord drew level on 69 minutes when Welling failed to clear their lines and skipper Tony Stokes ghosted in at the far post to score.

But they were on level terms for just six minutes as Lee Clarke was felled in the box and - with Nicky Cowley escaping with a yellow card – Healy tucked away the spot-kick.

Welling still had to survive one major scare when a close-range effort was cleared off the line but the 10 men successfully held out for nearly seven minutes of stoppage time to go through.