Ten players made their Welling United full league debut in a disappointing away defeat at Oxford City.

Only longest serving player, Sam Corne, had represented the Wings in a competitive match before their visit to the University city.

Their cause was not helped by a very uneven pitch that made close, quick passing almost impossible. As a result, they had to resort to a long ball game that was not really suitable for the players available.

Before kick off, there was a minute’s silence in memory of City’s Managing Director, Colin Taylor, following his recent death.

Once the game started, Welling  had an early opportunity when a loose clearance found Oliver Sprague however, with the goal at his mercy, his first time effort from 30 yards flew wide.

Sprague then found himself having to make a tackle as the last man as Louie Soares burst through but mistimed it. Referee Adam Ricketts adjudged it to be a foul, under pressure from Oxford players and awarded a penalty. Once Sprague had been booked, Liam Enver-Marum converted emphatically.

Thirteen minutes later, Welling levelled when Danny Waldren feasted on a partial clearance and fired powerfully into the bottom corner with his left foot.

Harry Crawford then drew the only save out of either goalkeeper in the first half but lacked the power to make it difficult.

It was just as cagey in the second period until the tenth minute when, just as he had done at the same point of the first half, Sprague conceded a penalty. This one seemed very harsh but that did not bother Enver-Marum who converted for his, and his team’s, second goal.

Half chances came and went but neither side tested either goalkeeper until Warren Whitely had a shot beaten out at the near post.

Bobby Devyne had a tough chance when Jack Stevens’ puny punch came out to him but his first time effort flew wide.

Stevens was lucky again soon after when he appeared to have assaulted Sean Francis in the area but the referee took no action.

Following the match, Mark Goldberg, Welling’s manager, expressed his frustration. “Wanted to get off to a good start. Two penalty decisions, the second one certainly a very dubious one as far as I am concerned. Decisions like that do change games.

“We did well to get back into the game before the half. We went into half time feeling quite confident. Decisions like that just meant we were chasing the game at the end.

“The pitch was very bobbly and it was extremely difficult to get the ball under control. A lot of our game plan, initially, went out of the window because of the conditions of the pitch.”

Welling will be looking for a quick response with a game against Bishop’s Stortford on Tuesday night.

 

Oxford City: Stevens, Odhiambo, Isaac, Poku, Henderson, Cundy, Soares (Ofusu 59), McAuley, Enver-Marum (McDonagh 81), Davies, Winter:

Unused substitutes: Fleet, Grant, Joseph.

Welling United: Lewington, Nelson, Brown, Corne (Whitely 59), Francis, Leacock, Hatton, Waldren, Slabber (Smith 65), Crawford, Sprague (Devyne 68).

Unused Substitutes: Banton, Johnson.

Referee: Adam Ricketts.

Assistants: Richard Watkin and Tom Reeves.

Attendance: 243

 

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.