Despite the best efforts of Storm Brian, Welling United snaffled a late winner at Gloucester City to extend their winning run.

Hideous weather conditions meant that the game was never going to be a classic and Welling’s victory was based on an outstanding defensive performance.

Whilst Gloucester enjoyed more of the possession, the disciplined back four kept them to shooting from distance and Dillon Barnes, back in for the injured Kleton Perntreou, was rarely troubled in the Welling goal.

Early on, he was tested with a high cross in the swirling wind but he took it well and, surprisingly, did not have to worry about that tactic again.

After Keiran Thomas had landed a high effort onto the roof of the net then Barnes had to stay big to save from Karnell Chambers after good work from Edward Williams.

Charlie Ten-Grotenhuis and Tom Webb fired over, Williams shot wide and Sam Avery should have done better with a header when a corner wasn’t cleared.

Barnes saved well from a long range shot by Storer then tipped over an effort from Kieran Parselle. Two more efforts from Storer flew over before the half time break.

Although Gloucester didn’t have the same amount of possession playing against the wind, they still enjoyed some opportunities. However, Welling had a couple of early ones. Joe Healy had a curler tipped over then Tom Hadler saved from Jack Jebb after good work from Eli Phipps.

Chambers headed wide from a Williams cross then Parselle hit an optimistic effort out of the ground from out wide.

Few chances were created at either end after that although Bradley Goldberg wasn’t far over from twenty yards.

Six minutes remained when Healy scored his seventh goal of the season with an opportunist effort after Tom Bradbrook flicked on Jack Richards’ cross.

That extended Welling’s run to six consecutive league wins, five of which were with clean sheets, and eight in the league unbeaten.

 

Gloucester City: Hadler, Thomas, Parselle (Hall 89), Cundy, Avery, Knowles, Ten-Grotenhuis, Webb, Storer (Morford 71), Chambers (Parker 78), Williams.

Subs not used: Edge, Mullings.

 

Welling United: Barnes, Dymond, Jefford, Durojaiye, Gayle, Parkinson, Monakana, Healy,  Phipps (Bradbrook 60), Jebb (Goldberg 71), Nanetti (Richards 46).

Subs not used: Coyle, Francis.

 

Gloucester City:

Goalscorers: None

Yellow cards: Webb, Hall

Red cards: None

 

Welling United:

Goalscorers: Healy (84)

Yellow cards: Dymond, Jebb

Red cards: None

 

Referee: Matty Buonassisi

Assistants: Adam Ricketts and Robert Claussen

 

Attendance: 296

 

Welling star player: Ian Gayle

Images courtesy of Dave Budden