Defensive frailties again cost Welling as they crashed to defeat in their first home game of the season.

After the game, Steve Lovell admitted that the main problems are at the back, saying “I said to them in there you can’t give teams a two goal start. If you cut out those two goals from thrown ins we most probably go in at half time one-nil up or nil-nil because when we got back to two-one, I thought that we were the better side. I thought that we were the better side all through the first half with the passing.

“They were very direct, they used their long throw well and they got their two goals. Our keeper didn’t have a save to make in the first half, not one save. Their keeper made a couple of saves from opportunities where we could have scored. The boys have given everything but it’s peoples responsibilities and the same feller scored the first two goals.”

Lovell continued “The only thing that I can say is that they’ll learn from it. We are young, we are athletic and we are good technically so that’s what I’ve got to work with. If we had their two centre halves today, we wouldn’t have lost the game four-one. Our boys today like Bradley (Pearce), and Olu (Durojaiye) playing there today because Charley (O’Keefe)’s not here, they will learn from this. If they don’t. they’re not going to stay in this league.”

There had been attempts to bring in another central defender but they didn’t work out. Lovell said “We tried to get someone on Thursday, we tried on Friday but they fell through we’re looking for a centre half.

“The game hinged on those two goals from long throws because all they were was direct. There’s been a lot of different combinations (throughout pre season) regarding our back four. We’ve been trying a lot of different combinations and trying to get the right people in.”

Pearce’s dismissal just before half time has compounded the problem. Lovell added “I had a chat with him (referee Jack Packman) after the game and he explained to me why he gave the penalty and why it was a red card. The annoying thing is not the penalty. It’s the sending off. Three-one with eleven men on the pitch, I’d still fancy our chances to come back but with ten men, and we lose Brad for a couple of games, it’s not good for us.”

Not being one to rant at officials during the game, Lovell continued “I don’t get involved with them. It’s gone. It’s given. He’s not going to come over and go ‘Oh yes, I’ve changed my mind so there’s no point arguing with him.

“He’s made his decision and I respect that although I didn’t think that it was the right decision but you’re not going to win by arguing. I’ll have a look at it (on the video). I’ll see what Mark (Goldberg) says. I think we could appeal against the red card.

Although Lovell admitted that the result would spoil his weekend, and the week leading up to training on Thursday, however he continued  “I know it sounds strange but I enjoyed big parts of the game today. I enjoy the way that we try and play. We’re not just a big hoof side. We try and play football. We got it out wide, we got the balls in the box. We didn’t most probably have enough sharpness in the box and that’s another where our players will get fitter and fitter.

“When you’re only training once a week it’s hard to get them as fit as the ones who are playing full time or three times a week. We are trying to cram everything into a Thursday at the moment and it’s tough. I’ll keep going. I believe in this squad. I believe in the players that we’ve got and if we start defending properly, I’m pretty sure that the results will come.”

Image courtesy of Dave Budden