Victory at Wealdstone was enough to move Welling United out of the Vanarama National South bottom three.

Prior to this game, the Wings had recorded just one clean sheet in nineteen league and cup managers but such was there defensive resolve in this match that the hosts had just three shots at goal, all off target, in the ninety minutes.

After Ricky Wellard had fired high and wide for the hosts Lyle Della-Verde blasted over at the other end.

Jonathan North made the first of many good saves in the first half from a Christian Nanetti shot. He then did well to push Danny Waldren’s shot around the post.

Adam Coombes was brought down on the edge of the area but North was equal to Della-Verde’s free kick before repeating the trick to again thwart the Welling wide man.

Nanetti tried his luck again and after his first effort was blocked by Edward Oshodi, his follow up was saved easily by North.

Dean Leacock missed a great chance when heading Della-Verde’s corner wide.

North then made another excellent save. Coombes looked to be clear but the Stones custodian was out quickly to make an excellent block.

Matt Fish tried his luck with a low drive that was again saved before Craig Braham-Barrett blasted over just before the break.

Unsurprisingly, the hosts improved a little after the break but only in preventing Welling from creating as many shooting chances.

Coombes belted a free kick over before a string of substitutions and cautions caused the game to become fragmented.

Danny Green had a couple of late chances for Wealdstone first firing just wide with Chris Lewington rooted to the spot then clipping the crossbar with a free kick.

As the game headed into injury time, one last Welling raid earned them the full three points. Substitute Archie Johnson whipped in a cross intended for Waldren but Elliott Godfrey got in front but could only head into the roof of his own goal.

After the match, a very happy Mark Goldberg was keen to acknowledge the impact of new first team coach, former manager, Jamie Day.

“We said at half time that we wanted to learn from the recent weeks, make sure we didn’t go gung-ho for the win. We would take a draw and instead of looking for the pretty goal, if we get a scrappy goal we’ll take it but most importantly, we needed to keep a clean sheet, keep concentrating and keep our shape.”

“There’s no doubt that the tempo in training has been excellent since Jamie’s come in. Jamie’s got the winning touch about him and he’s taken pressure off me this whole week. He was excellent today and I have no doubt that he’s made a major contribution to the win today.”

“I’ve come into the game today far more relaxed and knowing that we’ve got a person very very capable of making sure that all the discipline that is needed, the video evidence of the opposition has been studied and that there will be attention to detail that has been lacking, and I’ll hold my hands up, I haven’t been able to give the attention that’s needed.”

“We were disciplined at the back. We made our clearances count. We didn’t try and play in the wrong areas. Recently, possibly, we’ve been panicking because of where we are in the league and instead of going to get a draw and making sure we see out games, we’ve been going for the win and it’s cost us.”

 

Wealdstone: North, McLeod-Urqhart, Brown, Goulding, Oshodi, Hunt, Wellard (Godfrey 73), Green, Benyon, Whichelow (Koroma 67), Kabba (Wright 78).

Subs not used: Thomas, Parker.

Welling United: Lewington, Fish, Braham-Barrett, Hatton, Francis (Hayles 46), Leacock, Joseph-Dubois (Johnson 75), Waldren, Nanetti (Fuseini 87), Coombes, Della-Verde.

Subs not used: Nelson, Knight.

Referee: Robert Massey-Ellis

Assistants: Michael Smith and Nicholas-Mackenzie

Attendance: 820

Welling star player: Danny Waldren

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.