Following their disappointing performance at Boreham Wood, Welling United showed enormous character to bounce back with a win against a very strong Lincoln City team.
After a bright start, Welling started to find the Lincoln City attack a real handful, with Matt Rhead leading the attack.
Tom King made a stunning save when Callum Howe powered in a header from a corner, and Rhead was twice just off target with headers of his own.
Welling were forced to defend a succession of corners and King had to be alert to save from Liam Hearn.
Having failed to take advantage of their chances, they paid the penalty when Welling scored three minutes before the break.
Ricky Wellard had a shot saved before Welling won a corner that Lincoln struggled to clear. When it came back out to Wellard, he looked up and picked out Sam Corne.
Although probably the shortest player in the box he rose to head powerfully at goal. Paul Farman made a great block, but the Wings midfielder followed up to bundle home.
Maybe not a goal to match his strike against Tranmere, for which he picked up the goal of the month award for September prior to the game, but it was every bit as important.
It was disappointing for Welling, that having worked so hard to go ahead, they conceded with less than two minutes gone after the break. Alan Power’s shot was diverted past King by a gleeful Hearn.
Jack Muldoon shot wide on the turn after more good hold up play by Rhead, and both ex-Wing Chris Bush and Bradley Wood fired over.
There was a warning for Lincoln when Wellard finished well from Reece Harris’ through ball but his joy was short lived as he realised the flag was up for offside.
Harris was then in action at the other end making a perfectly timed tackle in the area as Hearn pulled the trigger.
What may well have been the turning point came eight minutes from time when Wood can have had no complaints when dismissed for a second bookable offence.
Hearn was sacrificed for Alex Simmons, and within three minutes, Welling were back ahead. Harris was again involved with a perfect through ball for Afolabi Obafemi and the Wings’ substitute was unerring with his finish.
There was to be no comeback from Lincoln this time, and Welling held on for a vital three points.
Wings’ manager Loui Fazakerley said afterwards “We knew it would be tough and the boys showed great character to grind out a great result.”
Head coach, Matt McEntegart was disappointed with conceding so soon after half time “Extremely soft. When you’re one nil up, when you’ve scored just before half time, the main message is that you get across is that you must be solid for the next fifteen minutes. When you go and ship in a goal, how easy would it have been to fold and let in another one.”
Coach Paul Barnes praised Obafemi who had only been on for a few minutes. “It says a lot about the lad. He’s been through some tough times. When called upon, he’s definitely the man for the occasion. I think it says a lot about the character of all the lads. You saw the action afterwards as well. Everyone’s in it together.”
They now prepare for the long trip to Barrow on Saturday with a massive confidence boost.
Welling United: King, Nortey, Jefford, Lee, Chambers, Lokko, Vidal, Corne, Kabba (Obafemi 79), Wellard, Harris.
Unused substitutes: McEntegart, Williams, Fitchett, Semedo, Abofemi.
Lincoln: Farman, Wood,, Waterfall, Beevers, Bush, Howe, Muldoon, Rhead, Hawkridge, Power, Hearn (Simmons 85).
Unused substitutes: Grant, Tempest, Hodge, Everington, Simmons.
Referee: Adam Bromley
Assistants: Gary Parsons and Louis Marks
4th Official: Michael Lowe
Welling star man: Reece Harris
Attendance: 702
Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.