Defeat at home to Hemel Hempstead Town drove another nail in Welling United’s coffin as their chances of remaining in the Vanarama National League South are looking less and less likely.
Rod Stringer’s resignation over the weekend meant that Brain Statham has taken on the role of manager until the end of the season, but he could not halt their terrible run. In the last ten games they have collected just three points and look like a team bereft of confidence.
In the first half, they created a lot more than they had done in recent games, with Sahid Kamara being a threat throughout. However, they were caught out at the back on too many occasions and it was a surprise that there were no goals at either end before the half time break.
Playing up the slight incline in the second period seemed to sap their energy and the quietness of the players on the pitch told its own story.
Millar Matthews-Lewis scuffed an early shot wide for the visitors before Welling enjoyed an encouraging spell. Six goal attempts, two by Josh Redfearn, two from Kamara, and another two Zain Walker shots, were probably more than the Wings had mustered in their last two games combined. However, a combination of comfortable saves by Craig King, deflections to take them past the post, and efforts off target, meant that they had nothing to show for it.
Then, from a hotly disputed corner, the visitors came close to taking the lead against the run of play when it fell to Joe White and his shot was cleared off the line by Maxwell Statham.
Just before the half hour mark, the Tudors had an even better chance to go ahead when Walker’s clumsy challenge on Matthews-Lewis in the penalty area presented them with a spot kick. Oliver Lynch stepped up but Rhys Lovett read his intentions and went the right way to save. It came back to Lynch and he aimed for the other corner. However, Chiori Johnson had reacted quickly enough to get back and hook it off the line.
Walker and Redfearn had further chances, which were saved and went wide respectively before Welling came close just before half time when Kamara pulled it back to Gene Kennedy and his shot was blocked on the goal-line by Ben Tompkins.
After the break, Hemel controlled the game and created the better opportunities. Matthews-Lewis fired just over before Dan Quick hooked a volley wide for the Wings. Lovett made an easy save from a Matthews-Lewis before having to work harder to push a White shot round the post. He then tipped over a Brandon Barzey free kick before having an easier time with a George Williams shot.
Despite his heroics, there was nothing that he could do to stop Hemel from taking the lead with thirteen minutes remaining. Barzey shook off half-hearted challenges to get down the left hand side before firing across the face of goal where Lynch was waiting to tap home from close range.
Five minutes later, Welling levelled when Kamara cut in from the left and fired low into the bottom corner to give him the goal that his performance deserved.
Hopes that Welling would push on to claim the unlikely victory that they needed so badly soon dissipated as the visitors showed the greater hunger to claim the winner. Barzey hit the post with a shot that came out to Lynch, but with the goal at his mercy he allowed Riccardo Di Trolio to get across and make a great block. Barzey then had a low shot saved.
Lovett pulled off another remarkable save when a shot by Matthews-Lewis took a deflection and he twisted to tip it over. However, his brilliant performance counted for nothing when the Tudors scored the winner in the fifth minute of stoppage time. A header by Mazeed Ogungbo struck the arm of a Welling defender and another penalty was awarded. This time, White took the responsibility and made no mistake from twelve yards.
If that gave Statham some idea of the enormity of the task in hand, he knows that it will be no easier when the Wings host league leaders Worthing on Saturday.
Welling United: Lovett, Statham, Johnson, Quick, Burchell, Di Trolio, Z. Walker (Kashket 66), Cornish (Taylor-Crossdale (79), Redfearn (Moore 59), Kennedy, Kamara. Subs not used: Grant, Bramble.
