A brace from Adam Coombes was enough for Welling United to beat a spirited Slough Town side.
Coming into the game Slough were fifth in the Vanarama National League South, two places and one point behind the Wings.
Steve King was forced to make changes to the line-up. Craig Braham-Barrett was away on international duty with Montserrat and James Hurst and John Paul Kissock unavailable. King also elected to rest Danny Mills. They were replaced by Jordan Gibbons, Charles Banya, Bradley Goldberg and Coombes.
Just two minutes had passed when loanee Coombes marked his third Welling United with a goal. Jack Jebb slung in a free kick and Coombes met it with a close range header. That equalled the number of goals he has scored for Billericay Town this season.
Shortly afterwards Gibbons had a great chance but Jack Turner made a good save as he tried to slot it past him.
At the other end Manny Williams shot well wide from a great position but Welling again missed a good chance when Coombes sent Goldberg into a shooting position but he curled his effort just over with Turner floundering.
Jebb went down under no challenge in the penalty area apparently twisting his knee, and he was stretchered off. David Ijaha replaced him,
Nassim L’Ghoul shot wide for Welling after Coombes had won a tackle and played it on to Goldberg who, in turn, found L’Ghoul.
The French winger then fired a free kick over before Brendan Kiernan shot over after he had cut in skilfully.
Matt Stevens was unable to keep his header down for Slough before Welling missed another great chance. L’Ghoul’s skill and pace got him clear but he slid his shot past the advancing Turner but also the wrong side of the far post.
One more chance came and went when Coombes found Kiernan and he jinked his way through before shooting wide.
Slough made Welling pay for it immediately after the break when James Dobson was left unmarked in the penalty area and he gave Dan Wilks no chance with a crisp volley.
Dobson came close again shortly afterwards when his free kick clipped the defensive wall and went just wide.
King responded by bringing on Mills for Goldberg but Slough had more half chances as Welling struggled to create too much.
Sam Tugwell headed over under good pressure from the Welling defenders and Dobson curled wide after good hold up play by Stevens. Mark Nisbet evaded his marker at a corner but failed to hit the target with his header.
Thierry Audel collapsed in his own penalty area allowing Warren Harris a free header which was also too high.
Whilst Audel was off the field getting treatment, Welling regained the lead. Gibbons got goal-side of Guy Hollis. A clumsy channel followed and a penalty was awarded. Coombes stepped up and fired home.
Coombes thought that he had another penalty moments later when going down in the area but this time Welling’s hopes were waved away.
Dan Wilks showed the importance of keeping alert when he was called upon in the last minute of normal time. George Wells let fly from twenty five yards but Wilks was across well to claw out from the top corner.
Moments after Sam Togwell had glanced a header wide in the fourth additional minute, the final whistle blew.
Welling United: Wilks, Gibbons, Banya, Mendy (Anau 71), Hill, Audel, Kiernan, Jebb (Ijaha 21), Goldberg (Mills 54), Coombes, L’Ghoul. Subs not used: Paterson, Ambroisine.
Slough Town: Turner, Fraser (Jackman 67), Wells, Hollis, Nisbet (Flood 83), L. Togwell, Dobson, S. Togwell, Williams (Soares 67), Stevens, Harris. Subs not used: Davies, Harris.
Welling United:
Goalscorers: Coombes (2), (82 pen)
Yellow cards: Gibbons, Ijaha.
Red cards: None
Slough Town:
Goalscorers: Dobson (46)
Yellow cards: Dobson, L Togwell, Hollis.
Red cards: None
Referee: Ryan Atkins
Assistants: Richard Carter and Jack Fagg
Attendance: 953
Welling star player: Adam Coombes
Images courtesy of Dave Budden