Another defeat on the road resulted in Welling United dropping into the bottom three of the Vanarama National League South.
Making their longest trip of the season, roughly three hundred miles each way, Welling arrived at Truro City’s new ground on an extremely windy afternoon. Since the turn of the year, the Wings have made a number of jaunts to the West Country with very little success and the game at a team that are amongst the title chasers was always going to be a tall order.
When the two clubs met in Welling earlier this season, Wings’ captain Dave Winfield was sent off for a second bookable offence in the fifty-third minute. History repeated itself in the return fixture as he was dismissed at exactly the same time, having again been cautioned in the first half.
At that point, the scores were level but with the wind against them, Welling were forced to battle hard before their Tyler Harvey’s brace put paid to their hopes of coming away with something.
They could barely have got off to a worst start when falling behind in just the second minute as Connor Riley-Lowe headed home at the far post from Dominic Johnson-Fisher’s cross.
Shaken Welling then struggled to keep the Tinners at bay and Winfield was shown his first yellow card in the fifteenth minute for a foul. Harvey had a low shot saved comfortably by Welling goalkeeper Rhys Lovett before the visitors started to grow into the game and ask questions of the Truro defence.
In the thirty-third minute, the Wings made the most of their first clear cut chance. Dan Quick played a beautiful low pass behind the Truro defence leaving Deon Moore through on goal and he made no mistake with a firm early shot to record his first goal in a Welling shirt.
Moments later, the visitors could, and probably should, have gone ahead. Scott Kashket and Gene Kennedy broke through on a two versus one break and exchanged passes before the former shot. Although Dan Lavercombe made an excellent save to keep it out, a more powerful shot would have given him no chance. It then fell to Kennedy, and he also failed to hit it sweetly enough and Lavercombe got up to make another good stop.
Johnson-Fisher then twice got himself into good positions for the hosts but between Lovett and Jack Burchell he was kept from getting a shot away on both occasions.
After the break, Truro won a couple of corners that Welling defended well before Winfield’s afternoon was ended when he and Harvey got themselves in a tangle and a melee broke out. Once calmness was restored, both were shown yellow cards and a disconsolate Winfield was sent to the changing room. Garrett Kelly was also cautioned in the aftermath.
Rod Stringer, Welling’s manager, was forced into making a change to the team’s shape with a double substitution and Welling had to dig deep before their resolve was broken seventeen minutes later. Having shot over when well placed moments earlier, Zac Bell found space down the right and crossed for Harvey to head home.
Rather than feeling sorry for themselves, Welling went onto the attack and looked for an equaliser. Maxwell Statham sent in a great cross that Kelly was unable to turn home and Sahid Kamara delivered a superb free kick that was flicked on to Riccardo Di Trolio but it hit him and Lavercombe was grateful to be able to dive on it before it crossed the line.
Five minutes remained when Truro appeared to make it safe when Harvey feasted on a headed clearance and smashed it home from fifteen yards.
However, the Wings weren’t done and they gave themselves a sniff when scoring in stoppage time. Lavercombe could only parry Kamara’s drive and Di Trolio was on hand to tuck home the rebound.
Sadly for Welling, they were unable to fashion another opportunity and all of their endeavour counted for nothing as they went home empty handed.
Welling United: Lovett, Quick, Di Trolio, Grant (Kamara 73), Winfield, Burchell, Kennedy, Kelly (Taylor-Crossdale 83), Moore (Redfearn 65), Kashket (Bramble 55), H. Walker (Statham 55). Subs not used: None.
