Relegation threatened Welling United did their case no good with a lack-lustre performance at Hampton and Richmond Borough.

Many times, this season, Welling have played some good passing football but fallen short in the latter stages. At the Beveree, however, their passing was sloppy and they were often caught in possession by a side who seemed hungrier.

Although Hampton had the better of a quiet first half, they were reduced in the main to shots from outside the box.

Brendan Kiernan, Josh Casey and Harold Odametey all had shots off target and Jack Taylor had an effort blocked by Ali Fuseini before Welling finally created their first chance.

Billy Bishop could only beat a header out as far as Danny Waldren but Nathan Collier got back to clear off the line.

George Oakley, one of three loanees making a Welling debut, then fired high and wide as the first half came to a close.

It took eleven second half minutes for the hosts to go ahead. Christian Jolley got down the wing far too easily before his low cross caused mayhem in the area which allowed Nicke Kambamba a tap in at the far post.

Soon after, parity might have been restored when Oakley’s excellent pass picked out Adam Coombes but his first time lob sailed the wrong side of the post.

Seven minutes after the opening goal, Kambamba added his and Hampton’s second a long ball over the top took a flick off Rian Bray’s head. Kambamba needed no second invitation to nod beyond Harry Girling.

Jamal Lowe, who had scored England C’s winner earlier in the week, was then thwarted by a fine save by Girling but he was not to be denied for too much longer as his low drive deceived the young Welling goalkeeper.

Coombes scored a consolation goal from the penalty spot after substitute Christian Nanetti was tripped by Odametey but it was too little too late.

Head Coach Jamie Day was both angry and disappointed. “I thought the first half was o.k. That was a new shape and we only had Thursday to work on it, but I thought it was o.k., didn’t test the keeper enough, probably, but it was uphill and I thought get in at half time 0-0 we can take the game to them in the second half.

“We didn’t, and we collapsed. I said to them is that we haven’t got enough players that care enough and that’s showing. This club’s always been based on players giving 100% and we haven’t got enough of that at the minute. Unless that changes individually from them, we’re going to be in the same situation until the end of the season.

“We’ve got a lot of players on contract. We’ve put it on them to see what they’re made of. I’ve been here four or five games now and it hasn’t really changed that much, where we want to go, how we’ve played and results.”

He felt that all three goals could have been stopped. “If you don’t defend properly and you don’t mark, you let people run off you, you’re going to concede.

“If you’re trying and you give 100% and technically you’re not good enough, I’ll accept it and so will Mark (Goldberg) and I said to the boys ‘I think you’re taking the Micky out of Mark at the minute.’ That’s where we’re at.

Speaking about some of the supporters show of unrest, he said “Of course they’re frustrated. There’s a good core of fans that go home and away and support the club through thick and thin, and they always will, but there’s one think that this club wants is players giving 100% and they’re not getting that at the minute.”

 

Hampton and Richmond Borough: Bishop, Soloman, Casey, McNamara, Collier, Odametey, Kiernan, Taylor, Kabamba, Lowe, Jolley (Hippolyte- Patrick 68).

Subs not used: Jelley, Howe, Murphy, Williams.

 

Welling United: Girling, Fish, Hayles, Fuseini, Bray, Leacock, Hatton (Nanetti 63), Waldren, Oakley (Walker 63), Coombes, Joseph-Dubois (Crawford 79).

Subs not used: Agu, Johnson.

 

 

Referee: Josh Smith

Assistants: Lee Grimsey and Sunny Gill

 

Attendance: 587

 

Welling star player: Mark Fish

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.