In the final game before Christmas, Welling put in their worst away performance of the season at Chelmsford City.

Coming into the game, Welling were unbeaten on their travels since the opening game of the season but they were well beaten and had their first double of the season recorded against them.

Their cause was not helped by an unexpected two match suspension imposed on Joe Healy by the F.A. or by Jamie Coyle being too unwell to play after having been included in the original starting line up.

Strangely, they still chose to play with three at the back, and rather than putting Sean Francis into the vacant spot, they chose to move Connor Dymond into central defence.

They were probably still trying to organise themselves when Chelmsford went ahead in the first minute. Nobody closed down Scott Davies and he drove a low shot from twenty yards into the bottom corner.

Matters got worse for Welling five minutes later when Luke Daley was not picked up by any of the central defenders and he finished from close range.

Jack Jebb brought a diving save out of Sam Beasant from a free kick and Bradley Goldberg also had a long range grubber saved but Chelmsford continued to look the more threatening and Ryan Sandford made a brilliant save when Chris Dickson met Daley’s cross with a firm downward header.

It came as no surprise when Chelmsford went three up. Kudus Oyenuga waltzed his way through the Welling defence before firing inside the far post.

Anthony Church could have made it four but failed to get a clean connection on his shot.

Dickson also had a good opportunity before the break but lobbed over after creating the opportunity for himself.

At the break, Welling changed their formation but Chelmsford still had the better of the chances and both Church and Michael Spillane missed good chances before Oyenuga had a shot well saved by Sandford.

Eventually, their superiority was rewarded with a fourth. Dickson played a 1-2 with Matthew Johnson before finishing clinically.

Dickson almost scored again soon after having been played in by Davies but Sandford made another good save.

Bradley Goldberg scored a consolation for Welling when, having been tumbled in the eighteen yard box by Spillane, he converted from the penalty spot.

Late on, Goldberg had another effort saved and Jeffrey Monakana fired over from Christian Nanetti’s pass but it was too little too late for Welling.

Chelmsford:City: Beasant, Daley, Graham, Omozusi, Spillane, Smith, Davies (West 85), Church, Oyenuga (Batt 81), Dickson, Johnson. Subs not used: Green, Porter, Haines.

Welling United: Sandford, Gayle, Jefford, Phipps (Monakana 46), Dymond (Nanetti 63), Parkinson, Driver, Jebb, Romain (Johnson 85), Goldberg, Durojaiye. Subs not used: Francis.

Chelmsford City:

Goalscorers: Davies (1), Daley (6), Oyenuga (38), Dickson (72)

Yellow cards: Graham, Beasant

Red cards: None

Welling United:

Goalscorers:  Goldberg pen (76)

Yellow cards:  Dymond, Parkinson, Driver

Red cards: None

 

 

Referee: Gery Heron

 

Attendance: 787

Images courtesy of Dave Budden