If ever a game summed up Welling United’s season, it was their home defeat to Gateshead.

Despite playing a very ordinary visiting team, once again they were unable to score or to keep a clean sheet.

They dominated the first half but conceded a soft goal just before the break and were flat in the second half.

Coming out quickly, Welling were soon registering their first goal attempts. Michael Bakare drew a comfortable save out of Sam Russell then Luke Wanadio fired over after a fine team move had created the opening.

Nortei Nortey then came close with a first time near post effort before Barney Williams curled wide.

Gus Mafuta shot wide for the Heed but Welling came close again when Reece Harris fired just over after good work by Scott Kashket.

Ibrahim Kargbo also shot just too high as Welling looked to be heading into the break level.

It was not to be however as just before the break, and against the run of play, Gateshead went ahead when Alex Whitmore stole in at the far post to head a flicked free kick home.

Matty Pattison came on as a half time substitute and was immediately in the action with a drilled shot that Marek Rodak saved comfortably.

Bakare then played a 1-2 with Kashket to break beyond the Gateshead defence but shot at Russell who knocked away for a corner. Ian Gayle met Wanadio’s corner at the near post but was unable to keep his header down.

Josh Gillies and Ryan Bowman both blasted shots into Danson Park and after Russell had made a low save from Nortey, Paddy McLaughlin fired over.

Whitmore headed wide from a corner as Welling huffed and puffed but could not find a way through.

Pattison almost added a second in the closing minutes but Rodak made a great flying save.

After the game, Welling manager Dean Frost admitted that the team’s inexperience was a big part of their difficulties in ending their barren run.

“That just shows you a bit of vulnerability when you’re down at the bottom, young guys can’t quite get that win. When you do concede it sucks the wind out of your sails and it was quite a flat second half compared to the first half which we actually dominated, played some good football, created some chances..

“Just before half time, a poor free kick to give away and poor marking again from set pieces. At half time we just said, make sure we start well again and have another go at them. You could just see the deflation in the players again.

“I try being realistic, I’m not a rose tinted glasses guy but we have certainly improved. We seem to have more legs in our side, a little bit more control about our play and with Kashket coming in, he gives us a bit of bright play around the final third. I think if we weren’t on this run, maybe a game like this, we’d win today. I think it’s just purely the run we are on, you feel very vulnerable, lack of confidence, and I think you can be a bit anxious and nervy.”

 

Welling United: Rodak,Williams, Chesmain, Kargbo,Gayle, Lokko, Wanadio (Daniel 78), Nortey, Bakare, Kashket, Harris (Kabba 66).

Unused substitutes: McEntegart, Taylor, Chambers.

Goalscorers: None

Yellow cards: None

 

Gateshead: Russell, Baxter, Whitmore, Mafuta, Curtis, Clark, Hamilton, Johnson (Pattison 46), Bowman, Gillies, McLaughlin.

Unused substitutes: Chandler, Shaw, Holden, Pearson.

Goalscorers: Whitemore (45)

Yellow cards: None

 

Referee: Brett Huxtable:

Assistants: Jim Paterson & Jonathan Hollier

4^th Official: Kieran Bailey

Attendance: 500

 

Welling star man: Noah Chesmain

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.