Twenty-two players were used by manager Steve King as Welling United defeated a young Watford side.

On another extremely warm and humid afternoon, King brought on a number of un-named trialists and all of them looked as though they would be useful additions.

“It was a good workout.” said King. “That’s all we want from those games to be fair. I want to thank Watford for coming down. They’ve given us a really good game and it was good because they are young and enthusiastic and they’re going to make us work. It was like a good hard game and work-out for us and in the conditions today, very, very hot, I thought the boys acquitted themselves well.”

Now King has the difficult job of working out which ones to add to the squad. “It’s one for me to work out.” he said. “There’s some very, very good players there now. We’re strong, but one or two of those extra trialists we’ll be even stronger.

“They’ve come in and said ‘I’m on trial and I want to show what I’m about.’ Sometimes trialists come in and they just play safe and I said ‘You’re coming in on trial, go and express yourself.’ If I ask you after the game ‘Did you do ok?’ and you say ‘Yes, I did ok,’ ok’s not going to get a deal. If they come in and say ‘I did really well.’ there’s an opportunity. There’s a chance.”

David Ijaha was absent as attending a wedding but other players who are already on the books did not get a run-out. King explained “They’re already at the club. I’ve got to make some decisions on some trialists. We’re only four games to go before the season starts so it’s important that you give the trialists a fair opportunity because we have to let some go today. It’s going to be tough because, like everyone’s seen, they’ve done ever so well.”

That will be particularly tough as the squad size has been decided. “We’ve said eighteen. We don’t really want to carry more than eighteen but like I’ve said, a couple of those trialists there today, I thought, were outstanding so we’ll have to see where we go.”

Although only sixteen can be named, including substitutes, a bigger squad is required as he explained. “There’s so many games. There’s seven games in August. There’s game after game and you can’t win the thing with eleven players. You need a squad.

“You get one or two injuries and all of a sudden you can’t even fill a bench. You need a squad to win anything in football. It’s a long season. It’s a fifty, sixty game season with all the cup competitions and you’ve got to realise that you need a squad to do what you’ve got to do.”

One of the supporters’ favourite players, Adam Coombes, left Welling during the week building up to the game and King explained “They (Billericay Town) made an enquiry to the club. We then spoke to Adam and said ‘Are you looking to talk to them?’ He was more than happy to talk to them. I think he agreed his personal terms with them that was a fantastic deal for him.

“The second part of that was to make sure that the club got a good deal as well, and they did get a very good deal and the deal wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t a good deal for both parties. As much as he is a fantastic player and a great goal-scorer, we have to move on.

“We brought Danny Mills in today. Danny Mills showed for sixty minutes, what Danny’s going to bring to the team. Work ethic, enthusiasm, quality, strong, took his goal well, nearly made another one for Brad so I’m happy with the business that we’ve done. Adam gets the deal that Adam wanted, the club gets the deal that they wanted and we get Danny Mills. Danny’s played at this level for me for two years and scored sixty goals. He’s certainly a presence that I think will get twenty plus goals for us.”

Although Coombes’ wages free up some money for the playing budget, King accepts that the undisclosed transfer fee will be used elsewhere. “It’s a lot of money to run a football club.” he said. “I don’t want people to think that there’s a transfer fee and I’m going to get that (for the playing budget). We’ve got a fantastic player in. We’re going to bring another forward player as well, another wide player as well.

“We’ve already managed the budget fantastically. I’ve got to say that. Mark’s been brilliant with me. The club’s been fantastic and we’ve really got players on deals that people will think that they’re on a lot more than their deals. We’ve done really well in that department.”

Goalkeeper Dan Wilks made a couple of important saves at crucial times drawing praise from his manager. However King is aware of the pitfalls of only having one custodian in the squad. “We need competition for Dan.” he said.

A substitute goalkeeper was introduced in the second half and King said “Luke was Tottenham’s under 23 keeper last year so he’s no mug. He’s come here and he’s acquitted himself in training well and he’s done ok in the game today.

“We’re looking at that one and we’ve said we’ll give it all of pre-season and we’ll have a look from there. Dan needs someone to push him. Everybody needs somebody to push them. We’ve got competition all over the pitch and that can only lead to people pulling their weight.”

Whilst King now has some tough decisions to make, he is happy that it’s a good headache to have and there will be much interest in who plays at Dover in their next friendly on Tuesday evening.

Images courtesy of Dave Budden