Defeat at home to Bath City ended Welling’s hopes of extending their season.

After their good performance against Weston-super-Mare on Saturday, they slumped to a disappointing defeat against a Bath side who only had pride at stake.

Jamie Philpot had an early shot saved comfortably by Luke Southwood before Bath took control.

Miles Welch-Hayes broke down the right wing and cut in but tried his luck from tight range with team-mates waiting in the centre. He then had another opportunity but headed wide from Matt Richards’ corner.

Andy Watkins cut in but shot wide as Bath enjoyed some joy down the wings.

Jamie Coyle tried to counter that by changing from 3-5-2 to 4-4-2 with Jack Parkinson pushing forward into midfield and the wing backs dropping back to standard full back positions.

Despite that, the visitors still had the last chance of the half but Philpot cleared Dan Ball’s header off the line.

At the break, Coyle replaced the injured Connor Dymond with Joe Healy and Jack Jebb with Adam Coombes. Bath also made a change bringing on Nat Jarvis for Opi Edwards.

Three minutes into the second half, Bath went ahead. The impressive Tom Smith broke out quickly and put Antonie Semenyo clear and the lively striker gave Bailey Vose no chance.

Bradley Goldberg fired well wide from a long way out after showing good skill to bring down a long ball then Healy missed a great chance when getting onto the end of a sweeping move only to side-foot wide.

That proved costly as another good Bath counter-attack doubled their lead. James Morton made the break before passing to Smith and he fired home into the bottom corner.

Healy was again close but couldn’t poke home at the end of a goalmouth scramble before an acrobatic Coombes effort flew over.

Smith came close again when shooting just wide before Southwood saved easily from Coombes after he had shown great technique to get Callum Driver’s pass under control.

Bailey Vose made a great save to keep out a half volley from the irrepressible Smith shortly before David Spain’s final whistle ended Welling’s pain.

Although, it was a disappointing way for Welling’s hopes to be extended, they have made a lot of progress this season and can travel to Chippenham on Saturday with the aim of finishing the season in style.

 

Welling United: Vose, Driver (Nanetti 76), Hall, Parkinson, Okuonghae, Coyle, Dymond (Healy 46), Durojaiye, Philpot, Goldberg, Jebb (Coombes 46).

Subs not used: Jefford, Johnson.

 

Bath City: Southwood, Welch-Hayes, Straker, Richards, Batten, Ball, Edwards (Jarvis 46), Morton, Semenyo, Smith, Watkins.

Subs not used: Buck, Ollis, Amankwaah, Hodges.

 

Welling United:

Goalscorers:

Yellow cards: Coyle

Red cards: None

 

Bath City:

Goalscorers: Semenyo (48), Smith (59)

Yellow cards:

Red cards: None

 

Referee: David Spain

Assistants: Steven Rea and James Hurst

 

Attendance: 365

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.