Harry Phipps’ first half goal was sufficient to take Welling United into the top half of the table for the first time this season.

Although Whitehawk are struggling this term having claimed just two points they gave it a real go and pushed Welling hard. Their chaos theory style of football caused all sorts of confusion in the Welling ranks but the defence held firm and after one excellent early save, Dillon Barnes was not troubled.

Early on, Welling had the ball in the net but Christian Nanetti’s shot was deflected home by an offside team mate.

Jamie Coyle then headed wide from a Jack Jebb corner before Barnes made his one real save of the match, and a spectacular one it was too. Liam Gordon burst down the left hand side beyond a number of missed tackles before squaring to Connor Tighe. He let fly from eighteen yards but Barnes tipped his shot onto the bar and out.

Tighe had another effort that was deflected to Barnes then Jeffrey Monakana had an effort for Welling saved by Alex Tokarczyk.

Just shy of the half hour mark, Welling went ahead when Phipps pulled away from the crowded area and met Jebb’s corner with a header that gave Whitehawk’s goalkeeper no chance.

One almost became two minutes later when Eli Phipps met Monakana’s cross with a flicked header that went wide.

Addison Garnett stole in at the far post for Whitehawk but couldn’t find the target before both teams were forced into making changes before the break. Archie Davies departed for Whitehawk two minutes before the break then Welling goalscorer Phipps limped off in injury time.

Rain had fallen steadily in the first period but got far heavier after the break in a forty five minute spell of few thrills. Coyle headed wide from Monakana’s cross in the early stages but that was as close as either team came to scoring until the latter stages.

Jebb, who had earlier fired a free kick into the street, was much closer with a later effort but as much as Whitehawk huffed and puffed they were held at bay by a solid Welling back four.

 

Welling United: Barnes, Dymond, Jefford, Phipps H (Durojaiye 45), Coyle, Parkinson, Monakana, Jebb, Bojaj, Phipps E (Pattisson 78), Nanetti.

Subs not used: Francis, Gayle, Joseph-Dubois.

 

Whitehawk: Tokarczyk, Walsh, Cadman (Fenwick 81), Elliott, Garnett, Odofin, Davis (Whittingham 43), Rose (Agnoly 62), Santos-Rodrigues, Tighe, Gordon.

Subs not used: Roddy, Hawkins.

 

Welling United:

Goalscorers: H. Phipps (29)

Yellow cards: Monakana

Red cards: None

 

Whitehawk:

Goalscorers: None

Yellow cards: Odofin

Red cards: None

 

Referee: Tom Reeves

Assistants: Christopher Bodell and Wayne Chalmers

 

Attendance: 309

 

Welling star player:  Ben Jefford

Image courtesy of Dave Budden