Gene Kennedy’s brace against Worthing kept hopes of staying in the Vanarama National League South alive for Welling United.

Although they still have a lot to do to escape the drop, they reduced the gap between them and the teams above and put in an excellent performance against the league leaders and that will give them a massive boost to their confidence.

In the early stages, the Wings looked like the team who wanted to win it most despite some erratic refereeing decisions. There were no goal attempts until fifteen minutes had passed when Sahid Kamara tried to catch out Worthing goalkeeper Lucas Covolan with a free kick but it went just over.

Jack Spong then blasted a free kick well over for the Rebels before Ruben Carvalho had a shot that was saved easily by Rhys Lovett. 

Scott Kashket controlled a Maxwell Statham cross and sent his defender the wrong way before shooting. However, the angle was against him and Covolan held his well struck shot. Sam Cornish then hit a shot that was blocked by the face of Sam Beard and a Kashket corner went across the face of goal with no Welling player able to apply the final touch.

Liam Nash burst through for Worthing and went down looking for a penalty but the referee was not interested and brushed aside the claims.

Ten minutes before half time, Welling went ahead. Having taken a short corner to Kashket, Cornish got it back with a better angle for his cross. He delivered to the far post to Kennedy who had lost his marker, and he cushioned his header home.

Early in the second period Nash struck a shot that hit Kashket and could have gone anywhere, Fortunately for the Wings it went wide.

Lovett made a brilliant low save from a shot by Temi Babalola after Danny Cashman’s shot was blocked into his path, then Nash fired over from ten yards out. Babalola was again thwarted by the Welling goalkeeper when he burst through one on one but Lovett spread himself and made a great block with hos left leg.

Uncertainty then proved to be Worthing’s downfall. Cornish caught a defender dithering and nicked possession before racing away down the right wing. He then cut in and, unselfishly squared for Kennedy to tap in at the far post.

Although Joel Colbran smashed a shot wide of the near post, the visitors ran out of ideas and Welling saw out the game in relative comfort.

No other club in the bottom ten won so, although still five points adrift of safety, Brian Statham will continue to set his team out to try and pick up the wins that they require.

Welling United: Lovett, Statham, H. Walker (Bramble 82), Quick, Burchell, Di Trolio, Kamara (Z. Walker 90+6), Cornish, Moore (Redfearn 90+5), Kennedy, Kashket.

Subs not used: Taylor-Crossdale, Ballard-McBride.

Goalscorers: Kennedy (35), (74)

Yellow cards: H. Walker (57 delay of restart), Moore (70 time wasting), Di Trolio (90+5 foul)

Worthing: Covolan, Colban, Carvalho (Martin-Sorondo 54), Packham, Partington (Racine 54), Beard, Spong (Willard 72), Rea, Babalola, Nash (Faal 72), Cashman.

Sub not used: Haigh.

Goalscorers: None

Yellow cards: Beard (15 dissent), Racine (87 foul), Martin-Sorondo (90 unsporting behaviour)

Referee: Tolu Sangowawa

Assistants: Peter Wilson and Craig Charles

Fourth Official: Patrick Nixon

Attendance: 923

Images courtesy of Dave Budden