After a break from league action Welling United looked to get back into their stride again with a game against Weston-super-Mare.

Unlike most games in the Vanarama National League South, the two teams who contested the game both played a passing game and it was far more of a tactical battle. However it was Welling manager Steve King got his plan spot-on.

Although they are at the foot of the Vanarama National League South, King knew that Weston would produce a challenge. “They’re a good side.” he said. “I don’t care what anybody says. They’re not a bottom of the league team. Their football is fantastic. They pull you apart. They ask lots of questions of you.”

He continued “Two sessions (of training) this week have been about them in possession of the football, what they’re like, what they do and what they try and do. I thought that they were brilliant up until the eighteen yard box but didn’t really hurt us. I think we defended brilliantly and people all put a shift in. We knew that if we didn’t put a shift in we would be undone.”

It appeared that the hard work paid off and King added “For all their brilliance, Dan (Wilks) never made a save. We defended well. Yannis (Ambroisine) played really well. I know how good he can be.”

Welling came out flying and King was delighted with their fast start. “We could have been three up in five minutes.” he said. “We’ve hit the crossbar. The keeper’s pulled off two worldie saves but we scored three fantastic goals.”

David Ijaha put Welling ahead with his first goal for the club. “Top stanchion” he said “Brilliant strike. (Matthew) Paterson’s one was fantastic the way he took it and chipped it and even the breakaway one at the end from Nass (L’Ghoul), got round the keeper and put it in the corner, it’s testament.”

There was another Welling debut as Danny McNamara has been drafted in on loan at right back. “Danny’s come in from Millwall” said King “We’re extremely grateful to Millwall to have him. I know that Millwall think the world of him.

“He’s done very very well. He started to get cramp towards the end and we knew we had to bring him off. He did what was asked of him. He’s never played senior football like that with three points on it so it was a good learning curve for him.”

The reason that he has come in is because of injury to Jordan Gibbons, but the situation that has plagued Welling all season is starting to look better. “He (Gibbons) has a haematoma in his leg so he’s probably a couple of weeks away at least.” explained King.

“We don’t want to keep rushing him back then he goes down again and that’s what happened so we just said until he’s a hundred percent right we’re not going to play him.

“Gavin (McCallum) will be another couple of weeks. Julien (Anau) has done his calf so he is maybe  a week (away). Ach (Anthony Acheampong) is back but Richard (Orlu) has had more minutes than Ach and is a little bit advanced of where they were from their injuries. Josh (Hill) will be available next week.”

As Welling have no reserve team it’s difficult to get players fit after injury so Welling have to try and arrange additional games. “We’ve got a game on Tuesday night here” said King. “That’s important for the minutes. We did a game at Millwall the other week and Corinthian-Casuals (London Senior Cup) was valuable for minutes for these guys. Again, Tuesday, there will be people who need minutes such as JP (John Paul Kissock, Richard and Ach and (Kyjuon) Marsh-Brown.”

Picture supplied by Dave Budden.