Jamie Day’s first game back as manager of Welling United ended in F.A. Trophy victory at Concord Rangers.

As happy as he was to have some momentum going into fight against relegation, he knows that Welling need points and he made a rallying call to the clubs’ supporters.

Looking on how they can restore the old Fortress Park View Road feel that the club had when he was previously manager, he said “I think support would be a massive thing. I said before that I don’t think there’s better supporters than there’s at Welling. There’s not loads but there’s enough that will make a difference.

“For me, at Hampton and other games where we’ve got on players backs and stuff, rightly or wrongly, it doesn’t matter now,  we’ve got 23 league games where everyone’s got to chip in, everyone’s got to dig in, they’ve got to play their part, they’ve got to support the players on the pitch. They’re going to make mistakes but as long as they’re giving 100%, which everyone expects from the staff, and supporters, then they just need to get behind the boys.

“I think they will be a difference. At home, if everyone can come in numbers and get behind the boys and get the gate up a little bit and help them out. They need help. We’re in a situation where we need as much help as we can so everyone needs to dig in, that’s supporters as well, I know they will do and drive us on.”

It was a thoroughly professional display that resulted in Welling progressing through the final qualifying round and into the first round with a potential tie against a Vanarama National side.

Goalkeeper Harry Girling did not have a single direct shot to save such was the quality of their performance, with defenders Sean Francis and Rickie Hayles solid at the back.

There were few clear cut chances in the first half. Adam Coombes thought he had headed Welling ahead when meeting Matt Fish’s near post cross but Bailey Vose made a miraculous save tipping it over the bar.

Joao Carlos had Concord’s best chance when bursting through but Girling timed his brave dive at the striker’s feet perfectly.

After the break Coombes fired a free kick over and Danny Waldren had a shot blocked by team-mate George Oakley.

Harry Crawford almost got on the end of a Coombes header down from Jordan Brown’s cross but Vose got there first.

Crawford again demonstrated what Welling had been missing when finding space to fire in a shot that Vose saved at full stretch.

He then turned provider when passing to Coombes who shot on the turn but saw his shot go the wrong side of the post.

Seven minutes remained when Welling scored the goal they deserved. Brown played it inside to Oakley and his low drive from nearly 25 yards flew into the bottom corner.

Sam Hatton still had time to fire a free kick wide before the final whistle.

Day had some praise for the returning striker. “Really pleased with Harry Crawford. I think that the way that he came back in today and added that bit of quality, he reminded me of Pughy (former Welling striker Andy Pugh) the way he plays and can drop in that number ten role. For someone who’s been out for a while, to come back and put in two performances like that in a week, I’m really pleased for him.”

 

Concord Rangers: Vose, Girdlestone, Laucys, Dowie, Ekpiteta, Newman, Collins, Topley, Carlos (Gordon 79), Cawley, Stokes.

Unused substitutes: King, Carter, Newell, Young.

 

Welling United: Girling, Fish, Brown, Hatton, Francis, Hayles, Joseph-Dubois (Johnson 73), Waldren, Crawford, Coombes (Fuseini 87), Walker (Oakley 41).

Unused Substitutes: Agu, Bray.

 

Referee: Sam Purkiss

Assistants: Darron Knox and Matthew Ball

 

Attendance:161

 

Welling star player: Harry Crawford