Another strong Welling United away performance this time got the reward it deserved leaving boss Steve King happy.

Having dominated most of the game at Eastbourne but coming away empty handed, the performance at Chippenham ended with a 4-1 victory.

Manager Steve King was ‘over the moon’ with the outcome. He said “It’s a tough place to come. Their record over the last three years is exceptional at home. Last year they were top five or six in the division with their record at home.

“They are a tough physical side. It’s a small tight pitch with a hill and they play the pitch very, very well, but I just felt that as a man, we stood up to be counted. We defended brilliantly and at times when we could play, we played some good stuff.”

Speaking about the playing surface that was very dry and bobbly, King said “It was the same for both of us. When you’re a passing team it becomes difficult. Even their manager, Mark (Collier), apologised. It’s not the groundsman’s fault but with the drought there’s no water. The drought killed the pitch recently. It didn’t play well.

“We’re probably lucky that we had two or three days rain towards the end of the week which helped a little bit, but as I said, it was the same for both teams and we just had to get on with it.”

In midweek, Welling played on Eastbourne Borough’s 3G pitch but King was non-committal on his views on those surfaces. “They are what they are.” he said “You have to play on them. A few teams have got them. It’s easier to pass the ball but for me we have to adapt to the conditions. We’ve got strength in our team as well as we’ve got footballers which has played it’s part today.”

He went on to confirm that Welling made adjustments to their tactics stating “We made a game-plan that in this particular game we wouldn’t play too much in our own half, we’d play more in their half because the pitch wasn’t conducive to that. The pitch didn’t allow you to play across the back. We had to adapt to the conditions.

“We dominated the game on Tuesday (at Eastbourne). The only missing link on Tuesday was not taking our chances. If we took our chances we win the game (by) three or four and nobody says anything. I felt that the finishing wasn’t at the best on Tuesday but we’ve got a hell of a squad and we can take people out and put people in and it doesn’t weaken us. It keeps us as strong. We’ve changed it today. We’ve taken four out and put four in and we’ve won 4-1.”

As well as changing tactics, he also made four changes to the starting line-up. He wanted the incoming players to put in performances that would make it difficult to leave them out again. “That’s what I said to them before the game.” King confirmed. “When you get your chance, take it. Don’t then look at me when you don’t take it. They did really well, the players, all that was asked of them. They dug in and did what was necessary.”

Brendan Kiernan did his hopes of staying in the starting line up by scoring a brace on his full debut. King said “(He) worked hard, worked ever so hard. Did really well but I’m happy because it was a team performance.”

A minor negative was that Thierry Audel had to be replaced through injury. King explained “He felt his groin a little bit and we thought that as a precaution we’d take him off. We’ve got a big game on Tuesday against Billericay and we need him for that because he’s a different class.”

On Tuesday evening, Welling United will entertain Billericay Town at Park View Road in what promises to be an early season cracker.

Images courtesy of Dave Budden