Victory at Bath City lifted Welling United into third place in the Vanarama National South, just two points behind the leaders.

Coming into the game Welling were fourth and the hosts fifth however the Wings were by far the better team.

Josh Hill, having signed in midweek, made his Welling United league debut and was excellent in the heart of the defence in what was an outstanding team display.

Nassim L’Ghoul tested Bath goalkeeper Ryan Clarke in the first minute and the Romans’ goalkeeper wasn’t convincing with the save.

Good crisp Welling passing kept Bath penned into their own final third for the first ten minutes as they hardly got a touch on the ball. L’Ghoul found Jack Jebb and his instinctive cross with the outside of his boot was just too high for Danny Mills.

Craig Braham-Barrett fed onto a half clearance and fired in a shot that took a deflection and flew over.

Eventually, Bath did get into Welling territory and goalkeeper Dan Wilks was called into making a save from a long shot by Ross Stearn.

On 26 minutes, Welling took a deserved lead. A long free kick was flicked on by Danny Mills and Gavin McCallum nipped in ahead of a hesitant Clarke and finished with a sublime flick.

Mills was then thwarted by a strong challenge by Robbie Cundy after more good work by L’Ghoul then McCallum fired into the side netting after L’Ghoul and Mills again combined well.

Jack Batten then had a great chance to put Bath back on level terms when meeting a long free kick but he headed it straight at Wilks who held it well.

Stearn tried his luck from a wide angle but Wilks was comfortable to save at the near post.

As half time approached Welling got caught on the break from their own corner but Adam Mann was unable to keep his shot down.

After the interval Welling, who have several players out injured, suffered a further blow when McCallum had to limp off with Julien Anau replacing him.

It did not put Welling off and they continued to press. Jebb had a shot blocked before a low Anau cross was too hot for Clarke to hold but nobody was on hand to finish.

Busy John Paul Kissock found Jebb who in turn found Mills. He passed on to L’Ghoul who closed in but fired over.

Stearn again tried his luck for Bath from a tight angle but Wilks beat it out before they had a great opportunity. John Mills was thwarted by a fine block by Thierry Audel but follow up shots needed a double save from Wilks, the second of which was outstanding.

Finally, Welling scored the all important second goal. L’Ghoul was again in the thick of it giving Jebb the chance to cross. Mills got in ahead of Clarke and controlled it well before slotting it into the net. Although it was his first Welling competitive goal, it was his seventh career goal against Bath.

He might have added another in injury time when again played in by L’Ghoul but on this occasion Clarke was equal to it.

Next Saturday, Welling travel to Hereford in the F.A. Cup high in confidence.

 

 

Bath City: Clarke, Raynes, Straker, Richards (Mills 46), Batty, Cundy, Smith, Rigg (Amankwaah 60), Brunt, Mann, Stearn.

Subs not used: Artus, Ball, Hodges.

 

Welling United: Wilks, Hurst, Braham-Barrett, Mendy, Audel, Hill, L’Ghoul, Jebb, Mills, Kissock, McCallum (Anau 49).

Subs not used: Ambroisine, Pinney, Coombes, Quebe.

 

Bath City:

Goalscorers: None

Yellow cards: Amankwaah

Red cards: None

 

Welling United:

Goalscorers: McCallum (25), Mills (81)

Yellow cards: Jebb, Mendy, Kissock

Red cards: None

 

 

Referee: Richard Gardner

Assistants: Timothy Burley and Sam Littlefair

 

Attendance: 1,585

 

Welling star player: Arnaud Mendy

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.