Victory at Poole Town kept Welling United in touch with the play-offs but put Poole Town in greater relegation danger.

It took just three minutes for Harley Willard to mark his first Welling United start with a goal. Jeffrey Monakana was the creator when he spun Corby Moore before sending in a clever low cross for Willard to tuck home.

Carl Pettefer missed a great chance to equalise moments later when glancing a header wide from Marvin Brooks’ cross. It did not prove too disastrous though as Poole equalised on nine minutes. Jez Bedford was the creator and Brooks finished confidently.

One became two when a Welling corner was cleared out to Mohammed Baghdadi who sent Warren Bentley away. He cut in past Archie Johnson and broke away to fire beyond Jonathan Miles in the Welling goal.

Bedford then created further problems with a free kick that Miles could only slap on to the crossbar. It came out as far as Baghdadi who fired a shot from the edge of the area but Miles was down quickly to make an excellent save.

Another swift Poole break presented Brooks with a further chance but he shot well off target

Having weathered the storm Welling came back into the game and after Olumide Durojaiye headed wide, Bradley Goldberg drew an excellent save out of Nick Hutchings.

Willard also headed wide as Welling finished the half on top.

Their territorial advantage continued in the second period and twelve minutes in, Welling levelled. Callum Driver was half stopped by Matt Neale but Driver was able to get away and Neale made a rash challenge resulting in a penalty to the Wings. Goldberg stepped up and smashed home the conversion.

Durojaiye fired over before Welling went ahead. Joe Healy’s trickery put Archie Johnson in space and his perfectly weighted through ball sent Goldberg clear. He took full advantage and burst away to finish confidently.

Goldberg might have completed his hat-trick when Connor Dymond sent him away but his fierce drive was saved brilliantly by Hutchings.

Although Poole made very attacking substitutions, they created few chances. Ollie Balmer had a shot deflected wide and Will Spetch headed over from Bedford’s cross but Miles wasn’t asked to make another save and Welling claimed three well earned points.

 

Poole Town: Hutchings, Alawode-Williams (Gyebi 78), Moore, Spetch, Whisken, Pettefer, Baghdadi (Neale 28), Devlin (Balmer 71), Bentley, Brooks, Bedford.

Subs not used: Leslie-Smith, Rees.

 

Welling United: Miles, Driver, Johnson, Dymond, Acheampong, Parkinson, Monakana (Jebb 78), Durojaiye, Goldberg, Healy (Bradbrook 84), Willard (Nanetti 61).

Subs not used: Coyle, Jefford.

 

 

Poole Town:

Goalscorers: Brooks (12), Bentley (14)

Yellow cards:

Red cards: None

 

Welling United:

Goalscorers: Willard (3), Goldberg pen (57), (65)

Yellow cards: Durojaiye, Dymond

Red cards: None

 

Referee:  David Spain

Assistants: Jack Bonnick and Michael Halford

 

Attendance: 390

 

Welling star player: Bradley Goldberg

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.