After a very difficult couple of weeks, Welling United claimed a deserved three points against Eastbourne Borough.

During the time since Welling’s last home game when they defeated Truro City, they have suffered defeat in Woking in which they deserved at least a point. However, more tumultuous has been the need to cut playing and coaching staff.

Caden Genovesi has returned to Q.P.R, at the end of his loan. Matt Paterson has departed to Havant and Waterville and John Paul Kissock has moved on to Whitehawk. Zack Newton has re-joined Worthing on loan and Yannis Ambroisine (Whitehawk) and Richard Orlu (Hampton and Richmond Borough) are also out on loan.

Two members of Steve King’s management team, Osei Sankofa (first team coach) and Larry Raji (goalkeeping coach), have also left the club.

With players absent through injury, King had just fourteen players available so it came as no surprise that he was delighted with the win against Eastbourne. “I’ve got to say the boys gave everything, absolutely everything.” he said.

“I don’t think Dan(Wilks) had a save to make in the whole game. We should have had a penalty in the first half, stonewall penalty, and to add insult to injury, he’s booked Brendan (Kiernan). Brendan won the penalty in the second half, clear cut penalty.

“It’s been a tough, tough week. Like I said in my (programme) notes, it’s been the toughest week since I’ve been at the club, having to get rid of people.”

It was a game of few clear openings but Welling had all the best opportunities. King said “We had a couple of chances that we should have scored. We went with two little men up top as we thought we could have got down the side of them.

“I watched them last week and I thought that we could have got down the side of the centre halves a little more. Jack (Barham) certainly had the legs on them when we started to stretch the game. Danny (McNamara) put a few balls in behind them which caused them problems and Jack was on them and they pulled him down for free kicks.”

After the game, he spoke to the players. He confirmed that he told them “’You can’t play well all the time but you deserved to win the game. You caused them a number of problems, not loads but a number of them, and sometimes you have to win ugly.’ We gritted it out and people gave everything for the cause. It’s been a tough week. Their peers have gone during the week, ones that have got us to where we are. It was tough on the lads as well.”

Despite the departure of Paterson, King chose to leave Danny Mills out of the starting line-up. He explained “It was a toss up what we did, whether to go for a big man and little man or two little men.

“We went with the two little men. I think they did alright but Danny (Mills) causes different problems when he comes on. He can hold the ball up, he is strong, he is a willing runner. That’s what you want from your subs, to make an impact.”

Explaining why he didn’t add a couple of academy players on the bench, King said “I’m of the opinion that if you’re going to bring people on the bench they need to be able to come to work, not just sit there to keep the bench warm and say ‘I’ve sat on the first team bench’. They need to be able to come back having made an impact otherwise there’s no point in having them on the bench.”

Despite all the departures, King was able to bring in a player. Jack Barham has joined on loan from Barnet until the end of the season. He has already had a loan spell at Bromley this season and scored thirty seven goals for Greenwich Borough and Phoenix Sports in the 2017-18 season.

King said “What Jack will give you is that willingness. He runs in behind people, causes problems. He’s a pest. He’s got quality. He didn’t get an opportunity to score today but I know that he’s a very good finisher.

“I’ve watched him a number of times. If he gets a chance he’s normally going to put it in the back of the net. He had scraps to feed on today but he put a shift in.”

Images courtesy of Dave Budden