Welling United manager Steve King felt that his team were not at their fluent best in their two nil victory over East Thurrock United.

“It was a bit more uncomfortable when it didn’t need to be.” he said. “They started better for the first five or ten mins and hit the crossbar. We missed a chance then got the goal, a nice finish from Brendan (Kiernan). Then we get another one then Brad (Goldberg)’s got to finish the game. Three nil and it’s over and done with.

“Two nil is a horrible scoreline in football. You get the next one and it’s game over, they get it and it’s game on. They threatened to get it but we missed so many chances second half. We haven’t played that well in my opinion. We’ve played in bursts. We’ve defended quite well, but (we’ve got) three points, a clean sheet and two more goals.”

Goalkeeper Dan Wilks made a crucial second half save and drew praise from King “Definitely pleased with his performance.” He exclaimed. “The save he made was a top top class save. It was going right in the top stanchion and he’s pulled it out from nowhere which is a massive save because that would go to two-one and obviously it’s game on then for the second half but what a save.

“I think that ninety percent of the decisions that he made today were very good when he swept up We’ve been working on his starting position and I thought today that most of his game came together.”

Centre forward Danny Mills is yet to score his first league goal for the Wings, but King does have some sympathy for him. “His overall contribution warrants goals. He should have scored when the ball dropped to him but his overall contribution, he occupies the two centre halves, he never gives up, he’s a handful, he wins his headers and he just needs to score. When he scores I think he’ll go on and score more and it will all click into play.”

Approximately a quarter of the campaign in, King is happy with how the season has started “For a new team I don’t think we could have asked for anything more.” he confirmed “The two we’ve lost we should have won on those days but the boys in the first ten games are doing us proud.

“We’re a new group. We’re only going to get better the more we work on sections of the team. It was important to get that clean sheet because we know we’re going to score. I think we’re second/third top scorers in the division so we know we’ve got goals in us from all over the pitch but we’re still a work in progress.”

He continued “We’re always going to get defeats throughout a season. Some we deserve to win we’ll win. Some we deserve to lose we’ll win and for me, we’re steadily going in the right direction. We’re not getting carried away We’ve had ten games. We’re a new group, complete new group.

“I’m pleased that we’re sharing the goals around which is always important for a side. Most sides rely on one player up front. We’ve got players from all over the park who are scoring. We’ve just got to get our forwards scoring as well.”

Injuries have afflicted Welling and there were further casualties in the East Thurrock game but King won’t select players who aren’t ready. The situation with Nathaniel Pinney is an example.

“Pinney’s still not fit.” He confirmed. “We’re still working with him. We gave him sixty-five/seventy minutes the other night. Everyone’s going to be called upon. You saw today, there’s two or three going down injured. Every week there seems to be an injury. We’re lucky we’ve got a big squad.

“I’m happy with the way things are.” he continued. “I need to take a look at Brad’s situation. Brad’s done a hip flex-or and I don’t know how long he’s going to be out. We’ve been trying to sign a forward. It didn’t come off. He went to another club instead because it was closer to home. We’ve got another week this week to try and look for someone.

“It’s fantastic that (Chairman) Mark (Goldberg) is backing me on everything we’re doing. He can see what we’re trying to do. He understands and that’s the important bit. Where he’s been a manager he understands where a manager needs help. We’ve had injuries and I’ve pulled players in some of the players have played for nothing. Mark understands the work which is going on and he’s behind me 100”which is all you want from a chairman.”