Although they had to remain patient, Welling United were good value for their victory against Billericay Town. After the game, manager Peter Taylor was happy with the outcome.

He said “Billericay are like ourselves, fighting like mad to try and stay in the division so we knew that it was going to be a very tight tough game but I was quite pleased with the way we played. We could have increased the tempo a touch but over the ninety minutes, I thought that we did some good things.”

The game was far from being a cracker and he felt that tiredness had an effect, adding ”I’m very pleased with the attitude of the players. I thought that we looked a touch leggy today though I thought that the performance in the first half was good. The second half was a bit patchy but it was the first time where we’ve had a Tuesday night game and I think that the players were feeling it a little bit. 

“To be fair to the boys they kept going and they worked as hard as they possibly could so, whatever they had in them, it came out. In the end we ground out a result. We knew it was going to be a tough game. Billericay have just changed their manager as well so they’re trying all sorts of things and are going to be difficult opponents so I’m delighted that it’s us that’s got the one-nil win.”

Arthur Penney was brought in for his debut on a one month loan from Millwall and Taylor explained how that came about. “Kevin Nugent, who’s the under 23 manager at Millwall, has been very helpful. We needed a centre half because of the injury that we’ve got to Teddy Perkins and thankfully Millwall came up with one for us. At nineteen years of age he looked like a seasoned pro at times.”

He fitted into the back three immediately and Taylor was delighted with all of them “They know their jobs. We can’t get it that nobody has a chance against us but they are working extremely hard for each other. They are being individually a good defender but then the other two are backing them up as well.”

As a result, goalkeeper Jack Sims had little to do but when he did, he made a crucial save. Taylor said “I thought that was a brilliant save because I thought that it was a good bit of skill from the Billericay player. I know Bagasan (Graham) because I had him at Dagenham so I know that he’s capable of that. That would have taken a lot of goalkeepers by surprise so that was a good save. I’m pleased for Jack because he’s just joined us and he’s had a couple of clean sheets now which is nice.”

Aaron Barnes scored the winner popping up in an unusual place for a wing-back inside the six yard box.“I’ll have a go at him” joked Taylor “but I’m delighted that he’s got a goal. It’s nice when defenders end up being attackers and get rewarded.”

Overall, having now been in charge for one month, Taylor has enjoyed himself. He said “One thing that Mark Goldberg said to me when he invited me to be the manager was that you’ll enjoy working with the bunch of players and he was right. They’re young. They needed a little bit of help. 

“We need probably a bit more experience and if we’ve got any new players come in, they’re so welcomed by them. That’s why it’s such a good spirit. Even today, there was a couple of substitutes when players have been taken off and maybe at other clubs they’d have had the raging hump for being taken off bur these two were cheering when we got the winner so it’s a good sign.”

Pictures supplied by Will Allen.