On a balmy summer’s day, Taunton Town and Welling United cancelled each other out in a goal-less draw. After the game, Wings manager Warren Feeney had mixed feelings about the afternoon.

“Pleased with the point but disappointed with the performance because I thought that we weren’t good enough in areas today. We always knew that it was going to be a very, very difficult game today. They were favourites in the game, which we knew. They’ve a great home record, they’ve got momentum but there were areas of the pitch today that I didn’t think we were good enough.”

During the pre-season, the Welling United coaching staff have worked hard on fitness as well as the technical aspects of the game. “I thought that the last fifteen minutes of the game, we showed that we’ve got character.” He said.

“You could see their players running around with cramp and I thought that we had that wee bit of a spell and I thought that if we keep going we can get one which I was pleased with because that’s what I want to build around the fitness.

“I can’t be too critical. It’s a point away from home and we’ll build on from there. I’m pleased it’s a clean sheet and a point to where we want to go but I’m just disappointed with some areas of the pitch today.”

Goalkeeper Myles Roberts only signed just before the cut-off time and made a crucial intervention just before half time.

Feeney said “I’m a big believer that keepers are there to make saves. They get paid to do that. He’s a good boy. He’s come highly rated. He’s come from Watford.

“He was on loan at Concord last year so he knows the league but I must say that the professionalism of Watford and the people behind the scenes at our club to get this over the line. He made a fantastic save, and it’s saves like that that give the rest of the team confidence.”

Although the quality of the new signings have raised expectations, Feeney was keen to keep everyone grounded “You hear that other managers are talking about us and I don’t know why.”

He continued. “You’ve got to remember that we only just stayed up last year and we had to make a big turnover of players as, no disrespect, we don’t want to be in that situation to be where we were last season. It takes players time to gel.

“You don’t start looking around until about ten games into the season and that’s when people start to take pictures of the league. I was pleased today but I know how good these players can be. We’ve missed a couple with injuries today, big key players, but you need a squad and that’s what squads are for. If one player’s out, other players can come in. We’re disappointed that we’ve come away with a point but that shows you how far we’ve come with that turnover of players.”

Few chances were carved out and a nil-nil draw was the likely outcome with neither side able to open the other one up. Feeney said “It was all about mistakes. I said to them at half time whoever makes the less mistakes will win the game.”

Now, with the quality of players he has, some very good players will have to miss out on games.

Feeney is aware that footballers want to play football and said “I don’t mind players being disappointed when they don’t play but I don’t like sulkers and I made that clear from day one. It’s forty-six games this season. Everybody’s going to be needed. I’ve got a good bunch of boys.”

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.