After a long journey beset by rail and road difficulties, Welling United claimed a well deserved point at Truro City.
Having to travel to Cornwall during the August Bank Holiday weekend was not an ideal situation but Welling put the Welling players made light of their late arrival and battled hard on a poor playing surface.
When they played on a similar surface at Oxford City, they did not adapt well, but at Truro, they played the better football and could have claimed all three points.
Two new players, Adam Coombes and Lyle Delle Verde made their Welling United debuts and both fitted in immediately.
Both teams had early half chances before Adriano Basso was the first goalkeeper called into action, saving at the near post from Dan Walker.
Mitchell Nelson then headed over from Sam Hatton’s cross before Chris Lewington made his first save at the feet of Andrew Neal.
Half chances continued to come at both ends. Cody Cooke stabbed wide for the hosts and at the other end, Coombes and Walker both had shots blocked.
Ryan Brett drew a save from Lewington and Basso saved a firm Walker drive.
Twice more before the break, Lewington made saves. First he had to keep out a Danny Waldren slice and then a shot from Niall Thompson.
Half Time 0-0
At the break, an injury to Hatton meant that he had to be replaced by Harry Crawford.
On 51 minutes, the hosts went ahead from a quick throw that was moved on by Neal for Cooke to finish at the far post.
Waldren came close with a rasping drive that beat Basso but also the far post however Welling levelled in the 68th minute.
Delle Verde found Walker at the far post and he played it in to Crawford who finished from close range.
Lewington made the save of the match soon after when Ben Adelsbury’s shot was deflected towards the top corner only to be turned over brilliantly.
That proved to be a point saver and Welling manager Mark Goldberg was far happier afterwards than in easier weeks.
“In the first half we had two or three good opportunities to score and we didn’t take them. I’ve been looking recently for that final pass. Today we had that final pass but we didn’t have that clinical finish.
“There was some good flowing football on a very bumpy pitch. I think if you compare this to the Oxford game, there are many steps forward. I think the fans that made the long journey, we appreciate them coming all this way, I think they saw a new Welling.”
Full time 1-1
Truro City: Basso, White, Richards, Adelsbury, Smith, Pugh, Brett (Knowles, 73), Neal, Thompson, Fallon, Cooke.
Unused substitutes: Bentley, McHale, Crago, Afful.
Welling United: Lewington, Nelson, Brown, Hatton (Crawford 46), Francis, Hayles, Joseph-Dubois, Waldren,Walker, Coombes, Delle Verde.
Unused Substitutes: Banton, Johnson.
Referee: Andrew Laver
Assistants: Lee Roberts and Scott Taylor
Attendance: 401
Welling star player: Lyle Delle Verde
Images courtesy of Dave Budden