Central midfielders Gene Kennedy and Sam Cornish combined twice to give Welling United an unexpected, but deserved victory over Vanarama National League South leaders Worthing.
Coming into the match, Welling were eight points adrift of safety while the Rebels were four points clear at the top having played a game fewer than their rivals. Current form also favoured the visitors who had won five in a row while Welling had not won in ten.
This season, the Wings had only won by more than one goal on two occasions, and had kept just six clean sheets in thirty-nine games. Meanwhile, Worthing had failed to score in only eight of their thirty-eight games, they had the second best league record away from home, and were the third highest league scorers.
Despite that, it was Welling who started the first half stronger. They had the first goal attempt when the outstanding Sahid Kamara put a free kick just too high. Worthing responded with a free kick of their own which Jack Spong fired well over before Ruben Carvalho drew a simple save out of Rhys Lovett.
Scott Kahket then tested Lucas Covolan in the Worthing goal after controlling Maxwell Statham’s cross-field pass, before delivering a corner that begged for someone to launch themselves at with a touch being all that was required.
Another corner, ten minutes before half time, worked better as Welling went ahead. Cornish took it short and received it back from Kashket. He then looked up to see that two Welling players had lost their markers at the far post and crossed for Kennedy to rise and place his header beyond Covolan to give the Wings a half time lead.
Although Liam Nash had a shot deflected wide early in the second period, the Rebels didn’t look dangerous until upping the intensity in the final twenty minutes. Lovett made an incredible low one handed save from Temu Babalola’s shot just ten yards out, then Danny Cashman fired over from similar distance.
Babalola had another opportunity when he broke a tackle for a one-on-one against Lovett. The Welling custodian held his nerve, though, and stayed up before sticking out his left leg to divert it wide. Ironically, from the Worthing corner Welling scored the crucial second goal.
It was delivered deep but flicked off a Worthing head and fell to Wings’ striker Deon Moore. He launched it high towards the halfway line where Sam Packham was covering. Sensing that the Worthing defender didn’t look comfortable, Cornish sprinted out and nicked it away from him. Covolan got caught in two minds between coming out and staying back allowing Cornish to get closer and draw him out before squaring to Kennedy who had a simple finish at the end of a gut busting run from his own penalty area.
Now deflated, the league leaders only had one more real chance in the remaining fifteen minutes plus eight and a half of stoppage time, but captain Joel Colbran wasted it when thrashing it wide of the near post.
Other results went Welling’s way to keep their slender hopes alive.
Welling United: Lovett, Statham, H. Walker (Bramble 82), Quick, Burchell, Di Trolio, Kamara (Z. Walker 90+60, Cornish, Moore (Redfearn 90+5), Kennedy, Kashket. Subs not used: Taylor-Crossdale, Ballard-McBride.
