Following Welling United’s goal less draw with Hungerford Town, joint caretaker manager Tristan Lewis was reasonably happy with the point and delighted that the team did not concede a goal.

He stated “After the last two games and after the last eight minutes on Tuesday night, keeping a clean sheet was what we set out to do.

“Pierre (Joseph-Dubois) said he was onside for the goal (which was disallowed for offside but which video evidence later proved that it should have stood). It was all about the response from Tuesday night. To keep a clean sheet is credit to the boys. We’re in a results business and getting that result here isn’t the worst thing in the world.”

He continued “We’ve tried to change the mindset. We had a players meeting on Thursday before training. I think it had a big impact on how we set up today and the mindset is that we want to catch Oxford City.

“They’ve lost today. That was the first result that we’ve all looked at in the dressing room, that we’re three points behind them now. It’s trying to have that mentality that we’re trying to look up now. We’re all aware that we’re still in a relegation battle but if we finish above Oxford City we should be alright.”

Whilst the defence was better, Welling are still struggling for goals and Lewis said “We scored three on Tuesday night and that should’ve been enough. Pierre probably could have had a hat-trick today so it’s good to have him back.

Slabbs (Jamie Slabber), unfortunately, was going to come on but felt his calf again in warming up so we couldn’t take that risk, and that’s why we’ve brought Tyrone (Marsh) in. He’s not quite fit so we couldn’t risk him today. It’s a concern but it wasn’t what today was about. Today was about keeping a clean sheet.”

Two new centre halves made their Welling debuts in the game and Lewis commented  “I’ve had Walshy before and he’s a leader. He didn’t train on Thursday and today was the first time he’s met the lads and he’s what we need in that dressing room.

“With Ben, I’ve known Ben in this league for a long time and Harry’s worked with him, he did make a difference. Hungerford are a good side and they make it difficult for you. They’re very, very, very direct and credit to them, they’re very good at it. So having those two at the back, it was probably a bit of a Godsend  that we ended up with them for today.”

Martin has signed on a dual registration with Salisbury and Lewis explained “I think, in the situation we’re in, we’ve got Rickie (Hayles) and Sean (Francis) injured, and Dean (Leacock) injured now.

“When Rickie or Sean or Dean come back, that could be looked at. Ben’s available for us and is going to do his bit for us to keep us in this league and if we’re safe and the others are fit, I’m sure he can help Salisbury. I’m sure that’s right for both clubs. It’s got to be amicable and he’s got to be comfortable with it as well.

“If you look at today and his commitment, he’s obviously got a lot of feeling for the club and we need players like that here at the minute.”

Getting back to the game, Lewis admitted “On another day we could’ve won the game and Chris (Lewington) has made one save in the game and it’s been a bit different to the last few games, that’s for sure. It was a very, very good save, another free kick by the way. We all get very nervous when we get a free kick against us but it was a great save and credit to him.”

Lewis then went on to praise the supporters “I thought the fans were excellent on Tuesday. We were all shell shocked at the end of the game that that eight minutes turned out the way it did because we could actually have won the game. So I thought they were excellent, behind the team on Tuesday night and really, really good today.

“We need them and I don’t think the supporters know how much of an impact that makes on the players. It really does make a difference. If they can carry that on, home and away, it really will make a difference for us.”

Jake Phillips made his debut on Tuesday but his absence for the Hungerford game raised questions that Lewis answered by saying “We know Fishy’s (Matt Fish) on nine bookings so we’ve just got to be aware of all those things and we are, and we have to be professional about that.”

When Hayles returns to fitness he is one option, but Phillips is still part of the plans. Lewis continued “Jake was going to be here today but he wrote his car off, bless him. Fishy would always have come back into the side and Jake understands that but Jake’s a good lad and he will offer us the cover when we need it but we’re going to be very sensible with him.

“He has to drive five hours to get here so if he’s going to be on the bench and he has a problem with his car, but he was willing to do it. If he’s willing to do that and sit on the bench and be helpful with our survival bid , they’re the sort of people we want.”

Explaining the tactical move of bringing on Sam Hatton for Harry Crawford, Lewis said “We went three in the middle at the end. Firstly, the minimum we wanted was a point and we know that he’s a goal scoring threat. Harry did great. He was tiring, and the other thing was Sam’s got the passing range that can get the wide players involved so that was the thought process behind it In fairness.

“The other night, Harry (Wheeler) wanted to get Sam on to shore us up and we’ve probably looked and thought it was a mistake that we didn’t do it. We didn’t make the same mistake today. Harry (Crawford) has got some nasty stud marks but it was tactical to shore up the middle.”

Picture supplied by Dave Budden.