It was a bitter-sweet afternoon for Welling United manager Loui Fazakerley on the season opener at Park View Road.

Victory over newly promoted Guiseley gave the Wings an ideal start but a second half stoppage time injury to his Achilles tendon threatens to keep him out for a considerable time.

Assistant Manager Matt McEntegart admitted “It doesn’t look great but I don’t want to speculate.”

Whilst visiting manager, Mark Bower, was adamant that his team deserved to win, the truth is that they did not muster a shot on target until the 96^th minute.

An injury to Harry Osborne in training on the previous day meant that Welling had to change their back line. First Welling league starts were given to goalkeeper Tom King (on loan from Millwall) and new signings Sahr Kabba, Kevin Lokko, Xavier Vidal and Ricky Wellard.

After Zac Thompson had fired off target for Guiseley, Reece Harris met Wellard’s deep cross with a header that went wide.

Adam Boyes struck the crossbar with a crisp shot before Welling enjoyed the remainder of the first half.

Wellard’s free kick flew over and Sam Corne was also unable to keep a shot down before the Wings went ahead five minutes before the break.

Another Wellard free kick found Lokko beyond the far post, and he headed back for Kabba to finish before running away and treating the crowd to a series of acrobatic flips.

Early in the second half, Tashan Adeyinka shot over following a thrilling run by Harris before the tall striker brought a save out of Steven Drench in the Guiseley goal.

Ben Jefford fired over before the visitors missed a golden opportunity to equalise but Boyes failed to find the target from fourteen yards despite having time and space to measure his shot.

Michael Chambers had a header saved from Wellard’s corner before Guiseley missed another good chance, this time Liam Dickinson being the culprit following good work by Wayne Brooksby and Boyes.

An injury time foul by Boyes on Fazakerley saw him helped off for what could be a long lay off but there was still time for Guiseley to create one more chance and it took an excellent goal-line clearance from man of the match Harris to keep out Gavin Rothery’s first time effort.

Coach, Paul Barnes was delighted with the way Welling played as a team “We discovered a lot more about them. They are young enthusiastic players with lots of energy. Everyone put a shift in, even those coming off the bench.”

 

Welling United: King, Fazakerley (Awotwi 90), Jefford, Vidal, Chambers, Lokko, Corne, Wellard, Kabba (Porter 62), Adeyinka (Obafemi 78), Harris.

Unused substitutes: McEntegart, Fagan.

Guiseley: Drench, Lowe, Lockwood, Lawlor, Brooksby, Boyes, Craddock, Hatfield (Rothery 77), Boshell (Dickinson 71), Thompson (Toulson 60), R. Atkinson.

Unused substitutes: D. Atkinson, Hall.

 

Referee: Dean Treleavon

Assistants: Adrian Gillett and Gregory Read

4^th Official: Paul Yates

 

Welling star man: Reece Harris

Attendance: 505

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.