Another home defeat deepened Welling United’s relegation despair.
For visitors, Wrexham, it was their first ever victory at Park View Road and manager Gary Mills also enjoyed the first time one of his teams had ever won at the ground.
It was frustrating for Welling manager Dean Frost, as his team enjoyed the better of the first half hour. However, once they conceded, things got tough and when the visitors added a second, from a highly dubious penalty just before the break, Welling’s hopes were all but done.
After the game Frost said “20-25 minutes we played very well, probably watching only one end of the pitch. For the first 20 minutes there looked like there was only going to be one winner.”
“It wasn’t to be. Always the way when your down at the bottom, seems to be that against the run of play they score what was a very, very cheap and easy goal.”
Harry Lee had an early shot saved then Kadell Daniel hit the post from a free kick.
Ade Yusuff shot wide and Reece Harris’ shot was saved by Rhys Taylor as the Wings continued to press.
Harris then headed wide from a Luke Wanadio cross but Welling were unable to break the deadlock and paid the price.
Rob Evans had a shot beaten out by Marek Rodak but Kayden Jackson was unable to convert the rebound.
Jackson was involved in the next attack from which Wrexham went ahead. Although Rodak did well to keep out Jackson’s effort, Lee Fowler was on hand to bundle home.
Had Welling gone in one down at the break, they might have had a little more optimism going into the second period, but a second just before the break changed the complexion.
Referee Alan Young deemed Ian Gayle to have fouled Evans, a decision that even Mills confessed was ‘soft’. Connor Jennings stepped up and smashed his spot kick home.
Although Gayle came close with a header from Daniel’s corner after James Ferry’s shot had been deflected wide, Wrexham controlled the game.
Fowler fired wide from a half cleared corner,then Jackson broke clear but hit the post.
Former Wing Blaine Hudson hit a sweet volley from a corner but Rodak made a brilliant save and although the ball was bundled in from the ensuing scramble, the goal was disallowed.
Evans sent a curler over and Jackson went down easily when tangling with Michael Chambers in an attempt to claim another penalty.
New signing Tomi Adeloye tricked his way through the Wrexham defence but Taylor was out quickly to save before Rodak made another good stop to keep out a Jackson effort.
Wanadio had a shot well saved before James Ferry shot over from close range with a first time effort from Noah Chesmain’s cross.
Frost said “We are the lowest scorers in the league so we need to be a bit more risqué around the edge of the box. I just try to encourage everyone to be a bit more courageous around the edge of the box.
“We need to take the lead and hold on to something. There’s a buzz around the dressing room. There’s certainly a good feel good factor around the dressing room but when you go on the pitch and you are down the bottom, you need to take your chances. When you concede you can absolutely see it. It knocks the wind out of our sails.
“The difference is we’ve got a young side, they’ve got an old side. They’re 2-0 up. They’re on the up. We’re feeling probably low. They can start expressing themselves, opening us up a little bit.”
There is little time for Welling to feel sorry for themselves as they look to break their winless run at Torquay United on Tuesday night.
Welling United: Rodak,Williams, Chesmain, Ferry, Chambers, Nortey, Daniel, Lee, Yussuf (Kabba 66), Vidal (Bakare 59), Wanadio.
Unused substitutes: McEntegart, Osborne, Wellard.
Wrexham: Taylor, Heslop, Newton, Carrington, Hudson, Fyfield, Fowler, Jennings, Beck, Evans, Jackson.
Unused substitutes: Smith, Moke, York, O’Reilly, Briscoe.
Referee: Alan Young
Assistants: George Warren and Michael Lowe
4th Official: Paul Burnham
Attendance: 620
Welling star man: Barney Williams
Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.