Before the start of the game between Welling United and Braintree Town, everyone in the ground stood and applauded Eric Brackstone, the popular club President who had recently passed away.
It’s fair to say that he would have enjoyed the performance and result. The three points took Welling to within two points of the play-off zone whilst Braintree missed out on moving into third place.
Although Braintree had to play the last hour with ten men, Welling were already on top. However having a man sent off didn’t help the visitors’ cause.
In the early stages, Joe Healy shot over then Bradley Goldberg clipped over Nathan McDonald but also the bar after Anthony Acheampong had flicked on Jack Parkinson’s free kick.
Christian Nanetti fired over before Ricky Gabriel’s moment of madness made it that much tougher for the visitors. He seemed upset about a challenge by Callum Driver and grabbed him by the scruff of the neck. After a minor kerfuffle, he again grabbed Driver and gave the referee no option but to dismiss him.
Driver’s next piece of the action almost saw him create a goal as he picked out Olumide Durojaiye in the area but the midfielder’s header flew just wide.
Healy had another effort blocked after good work by Goldberg before Phil Roberts had a shot that dipped just over deep into injury time.
After the break, Welling continued to probe and Connor Dymond was rushed into shooting over. That proved to be the final meaningful action for the Welling captain who was withdrawn soon after and replaced by Tom Bradbrook.
Having remained patient, Welling broke the deadlock in the 61st minute. Joe Ellul’s foul earned him a booking and gave Welling a shooting chance from 25 yards. Driver stepped up and fired over the defensive wall and beyond the diving McDonald.
Luke Allen shot wide for Braintree before Welling goalkeeper Jonathan Miles saved acrobatically at his near post from Roberts.
As the game looked like it was starting to open up, Welling scored the crucial second.
Whilst McDonald did well to tip over Bradbrook’s header, his dealing with the corner was far less impressive. Nanetti’s cross was dangerous but McDonald made a complete mess of it, flapping it down for Anthony Acheampong to smash home from inside the six yard box.
Bradbrook had a header easily saved before Welling scored their third in a fifteen minute spell. Goldberg burst away from the half way line before finding Bradbrook. He played it out to Jack Jebb on the left wing and he cut in to curl in an absolute pearler from out wide.
In the latter stages, Miles made a couple of sides from Roberts to maintain his clean sheet as Welling claimed their third consecutive league victory.
Welling United: Miles, Driver, Johnson, Dymond (Bradbrook 54), Acheampong, Parkinson, Monakana, Durojaiye, Goldberg, Healy (Jefford 85), Nanetti (Jebb 70).
Subs not used: Coyle, Willard.
Braintree Town: McDonald; Bettache (Grant 70), Gabriel, Ellul, Frimpong, Mulea, Allen, Crook, Roberts, Michael-Percil (Wyatt 31), Barrington (Baxter 79).
Subs not used: Okoye, Oliyide.
Welling United:
Goalscorers: Driver (61), Acheampong (67), Jebb (76)
Yellow cards: Driver, Monakana
Red cards: None
Braintree Town:
Goalscorers: None
Yellow cards: Frimprong, Roberts, Ellul
Red cards: Gabriel
Referee: Jason Richardson
Assistants: Robert Claussen and Craig Barnett
Attendance: 528
Welling star player: Callum Driver
Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.