After their exertions one night earlier, Welling United manager Steve King made ten changes to the starting line-up away to an experienced Dorking Wanderers.

On a synthetic surface heavily rubbered, the ball didn’t run as quickly as some and it took Welling a while to acclimatise.

Zack Newton looked lively from the start and fired a shot wide from twenty yards before Jason Prior’s first time effort from Matt Briggs’ low driven cross went wide for the hosts.

Sam El Abd was indebted to goalkeeper Slavomir Huk after diverting Newton’s ball across towards the bottom corner but Dorking looked dangerous on the attack and a flying Luke O’Reilly turned over a shot by Briggs.

James McShane then shot wide of the near post after more good work by Briggs before Welling broke the dead-lock.  Newton found Dean McDonald who moved it on to Nathaniel Pinney.

He, in turn, laid it into the path of Brendan Kiernan and the new signing made no mistake with a low drive into the bottom corner.

Kieran Lavery thought that he had equalised almost immediately but O’Reilly managed to claw it back at the second attempt then Prior had a header tipped onto the bar and over.

Archie Johnson sent Kiernan away and his fierce shot was beaten out by Huk too powerfully for Newton to control and finish.

Pinney came close, before putting Welling two up just after the half hour mark. Newton ran at the Wanderers’ defence before playing in Pinney. He took his time before placing into the bottom corner.

On 54 minutes, Dorking reduced the deficit. O’Reilly made an excellent save turning Tom Tolfrey’s near post effort round the post but he was powerless to stop Ben Dyett’s header from McShane’s delivery.

Another Pinney raid ended when he shot just wide before the trialist who scored a spectacular goal against Q.P.R., had a shot turned round for a corner.

The delivery came in, Julian Anau knocked it back, and the un-named trialist spun and fired into the top corner.

David Ijaha brought a great save out of Huk before the Wanderers again pulled a goal back. Tolfrey rounded O’Reilly who brought him down for a penalty. Guiseppe Sole stepped up and converted confidently.

Although there was just over fifteen minutes remaining, there were no further real chances and Welling finished their pre-season campaign with a victory. Now King has the difficult decision to make of which trialists to add to the squad.

 

Dorking Wanderers: Huk (Wells 85), O’Sullivan (Ralph 78), El Abd (Tolfrey 46), Dyett (Diyabi 75), Taylor, McManus (Manning 70), Richards, Briggs, Prior (Beard 46), Lavery (Mahony 61), McShane (Sole 61).

Unused substitutes:  Summerfield.

 

Welling United: O’Reilly, Dymond, Johnson, Ijaha, Orlu, Mendy, Kiernan, Anay, Newton, McDonald, Pinney.

Substitutes included trialists.

 

Referee: Dele Sotimirin

Assistants: David Merinio and Neil Holland

 

Dorking Wanderers:

Goals: Dyett (54), Sole pen (73)

Yellow cards: None

Red cards: None

 

Welling United

Goals: Kiernan (15), Pinney (31), Trialist (58).

Yellow cards: None

Red cards: None

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.