After last week’s victory for Bristol Rovers over Welling United at the Memorial Ground, there was nothing to choose between the two clubs when they met again at Park View Road.

Both teams had opportunities but the defences held the upper hand as Welling showed themselves hard to beat at home, whilst Bristol Rovers continued their long unbeaten run.

Former Bromley striker Bradley Goldberg, making his Bristol Rovers league debut, had an early shot blocked by Benji Buchel and then had a shot deflected wide as the visitors started strongly.

If the Wings team, missing suspended Jamie Day and Jake Gallagher, had a tough challenge. It became that much harder when injury curtailed Charlie Penny’s game in just the eleventh minute. Kieron St. Aimie replaced him.

Tyrone Marsh, back from injury, had a free kick well saved by Fabian Spiess who had only joined on an emergency loan from Notts County one day earlier.

Stuart Sinclair, who could easily have missed the game through suspension following a wild challenge in the game seven days earlier, took a tumble in the Wings penalty area although clearly not fouled.

Marsh was thwarted by a fine save from Spiess as Welling threatened again but Buchel had to be sharp when claiming a low cross from Lee Brown just before the break.

Goldberg started the second half brightly but shot meekly at Buchel, then the Wings stopper saved from Nathan Blissett’s header.

Another Marsh shot was blocked and Zach Fagan dragged the rebound wide before Darrell Clarke made a double change for the Gas.

Alex Wall, who enjoyed a successful spell for Dartford earlier in the year, had a shot blocked by Michael Chambers as the game went end to end.

Ollie Clarke headed over for the Rovers when under pressure but Wall did likewise when he should have done better from Jake Gosling’s centre.

Sinclair had a shot easily saved by Buchel as the visitors enjoyed their best spell of the match but Welling still had opportunities and Jamal Fyfield was unable to turn Ben Jefford’s free kick goalwards when at full stretch.

Buchel made  brilliant save at full stretch from a Wall free kick before Joe Healy chipped just wide for Welling shortly before the end.

Day’s Wings now have to prepare for a trip to Telford on Tuesday night.

 

Bristol Rovers: Speiss, Brown, Lockyer, McChrystal, Parkes, Mansell, Clarke, Goldberg (Wall 62), Sinclair, Blissett (Taylor 70), Balanta (Gosling 62).

Unused substitutes: Leadbitter, Trotman.

Welling United: Buchel, Williams, Jefford, Fagan, Fyfield, Chambers, Bassele (Hudson 59), Corne, Marsh, Penny (St Aimie 11), Healy (Bush 90).

Unused substitutes: Henly, Taylor.

Referee: Colin Lymer

Attendance: 1,176

Welling star player: Sam Corne

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.