Yet another penalty decision confined Welling United to defeat at home to St Albans City.

They look as if they are trying to set some sort of a record as they have conceded five converted penalties in five games so far this season.

Mark Goldberg, Welling’s manager felt that the one against St Albans was ‘soft’ but doesn’t hide the fact that they have only scored three goals in 450 minutes of league football so far.

All started reasonably well and the Wings came close to going ahead in just the second minute when James Russell did superbly to tip Dan Walker’s effort onto the crossbar.

Both teams had half chances before Tom Bender was thwarted by a brilliant Chris Lewington save.

Lewington was in action again soon after with a tremendous reaction save from Louie Theophanous and he produced another good one from Junior Morias shortly afterwards.

Then came the crucial moment. Shaun Lucien broke into the penalty area and referee Lee Venamore decided that Mitchell Nelson’s challenge was a foul. Morias stepped up and belted the spot kick straight down the middle.

Goldberg made a tactical change at the break and brought on Sam Hatton for Archie Johnson.

Nelson and Danny Waldren both headed over for Welling before Dipo Akinyemi missed a great chance for the visitors.

For the second time in the match, Welling struck the woodwork when Nelson’s header clattered back off the crossbar.

Bobby Devyne came close for the Wings and Russell was out quickly to deny Walker before making an excellent save at the far post from Waldren.

That was the end of Welling’s hopes and Sam Merson had three chances for the Saints but couldn’t beat Lewington.

After the game, Goldberg could not hide his disappointment saying. “I’m not prepared to make excuses any more. I’m going to have to make some changes but at the same time it has to be done by balancing the books. Players will have to go out on loan and one or two will have to come in.

“The game plan is quite clear to everybody. Everybody knows their roles and responsibilities. There are times when we looked good but it’s not consistent enough.

“I’m desperate to get Pierre (Joseph-Dubois) and Warren Whitely back in. A fit Pierre is like a new player for me.

“We’ve got a squad of players that haven’t been opened up in open play by the opposition. I would certainly say that, other than Weston-super-Mare, you could easily have said that we could have got draws from all the other games, if not, with a bit of luck, gone the other way.

“I’m questioning everything at the moment. I’m questioning our fitness levels. This is a completely new set up behind the scenes. We’ve never all worked together before. Any of us. I think there should be question marks everywhere.”

Welling United: Lewington, Nelson, Brown, Hayles, Francis, Leacock (Sprague 69), Devyne, Waldren, Crawford (Slabber 56), Walker, Johnson (Hatton 46).

Unused Substitutes: Agu, Banton.

St Albans City: Russell, Carey, Bender, Chappell, Hill, Johnson, Lucien (Merson 79), Thomas, Theophanous, Morias, Akinyemi (Rees 81).

Unused Substitutes: Ball, Iwediuno, Hoenes.

Referee: Paul Kelly

Assistants: Robert Claussen and Tom Nicholls

Attendance: 483

Images courtesy of Dave Budden