When Cheltenham Town and Welling United last met, 5400 spectators watched a drab 0-0 draw in a game of opposing emotions for the two teams.
Hosts Cheltenham were presented with the trophy for winning the league title at the end of the game whilst Welling went home believing they had been relegated. As it turned out they were given a reprieve when Barrow were demoted for going into administration.
Under half that number were at the game at the World of Smile Stadium on Saturday, but the hosts’ supporters still went home with a feel good factor.
Marek Rodak made a number of fine saves as the Robins showed why they are promotion favourites whilst Welling are in serious danger of dropping back down.
In the opening minutes, he was in action saving from James Rowe who had cut in before shooting. Soon after, he beat out another effort from the same player.
After 17 minutes, Cheltenham went ahead. Jordan Cranston did the hard part in dragging the defence out before crossing from the bye-line for Danny Wright to jump and head inside the far post.
Kadell Daniel shot wide of the near post for Welling before Asa Hall did likewise for Cheltenham.
Probably Welling’s best chance came when Daniel and Sahr Kabba combined to allow Barney Williams to cross. Michael Bakare got ahead of the defender but did not get a clean enough contact and Dillon Phillips made a diving save.
Hall escaped censure for going through Harry Lee from behind before Daniel met a long cross but headed wide.
James Dayton tested Rodak when his defence went to sleep and allowed him a shot from a short corner, and Rodak was called into making two more excellent stops from Dayton and Jack Barthram.
Cameron Burgess headed wide after the break before the Robins made the game safe. Wright might have aimed his header inside the far post from a deep cross but Dan Holman removed any doubt about whether it would go in but smashing home from a yard out.
Hall had another shot beaten out before Welling enjoyed a greater share of possession without creating chances.
Holman went wide before Barney Williams made a brilliant tackle as Billy Waters rounded Rodak
Noah Chesmain made a goal-line block to keep the score down to two but Welling were unable to create anything more than an Ade Yusuff curler that was saved comfortably by Phillips.
Afterwards, Wings manager Dean Frost admitted he expected a tough game “I’ve watched them all this week. They’ve got a bit of everything in all areas of the park.”
“Strong at the back, strong runners through the midfield and they’ve got a forward who’s scoring lots of goals at the moment.”
“They dominated spells of the game but as the game grew on second half, we showed again that there are some good players.
”I’m looking for the right characters to be around on the pitch. We need to dig out results so I want to know I’ve got mentally strong players who can tough these last fourteen games out.
“It’s very clear we need some threat in the final third. It’s something that probably should have been addressed a long time ago.”
Cheltenham Town: Phillips, Barthram, Cranston, Storer, Parslow, Hall (Pell 67 (Waters 80)), Burgess, Dayton (Munns 68), Rowe, Wright, Holman.
Unused substitutes: Kitscha, McLennan.
Welling United: Rodak,Williams, Chesmain, Ferry, Chambers, Gayle, Daniel (Wanadio 80), Lee, Kabba, Bakare (Harris 61), Nortey (Yusuff 72).
Unused substitutes: McEntegart, Wellard.
Referee: Michael Salisbury
Assistants: Benjamin James & Grant Taylor
4th Official: Kevin Howick
Attendance: 2,549
Welling star man: Marek Rodak
Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.