After Saturday’s victory, Welling United tasted defeat at Forest Green Road in a game punctuated by missed chances.

Early on, Welling looked good and both Tashan Adeyinka and Xavier Vidal shot over.

Zac Fagan brought a save out of Jonny Maxted before Aaron O’Connor had the Green’s first effort but was also off target.

Saar Kabba miscued wide before Aarran Racine was off target on the turn for the hosts.

Ricky Wellard had a free kick from wide saved at the near post before Jon Parkin could not get enough bend around the wall to bother Tom King in the Welling goal.

Former Wing Kurtis Guthrie had a couple of efforts off target before Forest Green went ahead just before the break. It was cruel on Welling as O’Connor’s shot took a massive deflection leaving King wrong footed.

Early in the second half, Rob Sinclair had a shot cleared off the line by Michael Chambers after Guthrie’s shot had been saved then, at the other end, Vidal miscued wide after Wellard’s shot was saved.

Wellard had another effort saved before O’Connor missed with a first time effort from Elliott Frear’s deep cross.

King came out quickly to make a great save after Guthrie broke through and Ben Jefford was called upon to head off the line when Frear’s cross looped over the Wings’ keeper.

O’Connor had a shot saved easily and another one blocked but Welling came back and Afolabi Obafemi had a header saved before Vidal went just wide from 20 yards with Maxted struggling.

As the game went into injury time, Frear missed the opportunity to make the game safe but fired across goal.

Forest Green almost paid for the miss when George Porter had a last gasp shot saved.

Manager Loui Fazakerley was disappointed saying ‘the boys worked their socks off’ but came away with nothing.

 

Forest Green Rovers: Maxted, Pipe, Bennett, O’Connor, Wedgbury, Kelly, Frear, Racine, Guthrie (Sam-Yorke 82), Sinclair, Parkin (Marsh-Brown 61).

Unused substitutes: Jennings, Kamdjo, White.

Goal: O’Connor (45).

Booked: Guthrie (41), O’Connor (90).

Welling United: King, Osborne (Nortey H/T), Jefford, Vidal, Chambers, Lokko, Fagan, Wellard, Kabba (Porter 64), Adeyinka (Obafemi 77), Harris.

Unused substitutes: McEntegart, Awotwi.

Booked: Fagan (39).

 

Referee: Mark Pottage

Assistants: Matthew Rushton and Chris Smith

4^th Official: Thomas Harty

 

Welling star man: Ricky Wellard

Attendance: 1,076

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.