Two goals in stoppage time further eased Welling United’s relegation worries when they defeated Weston-super-Mare at the J. Hearnden Skip Hire Community Stadium.
They went in at half time with a one goal lead but struggled to get a foot-hold on the game against a very good footballing side from Somerset. However, after Weston drew level, two Welling substitutes scored the goals that earned the victory.
Reece Grant had the first effort for Welling when turning and shooting but Max Harris made the save. However, Weston had a great opportunity to go ahead soon after. Jason Pope pulled it back to Dayle Grubb and his shot lacked conviction allowing Reice Charles-Cook to get across and make an excellent save.
Reuben Reid fired well over for the visitors before Chiori Johnson’s shot for the Wings was deflected by Jordan Bastin’s attempted block causing it too loop just over the bar. Jason Adigun then broke two tackles and shot low but Harris got down to smother.
James Dodd got on the end of a knock-down by Reid after he had held it up well and Charles-Cook had to get down to save well from the twenty yard strike. The Welling goalkeeper was less troubled when claiming Reid’s looping header soon after.
Cameron Green’s free kick just evaded Riccardo Di Trolio at the far post before the hosts went ahead just after the half hour mark. Adigun brought down Anthony Grant’s high forward pass before threading it through to Sonny Fish who held off his man and lashed it home.
Reece Grant might have added a second just before the break when bursting down the left but Harris made an excellent save to keep out his fierce drive.
After the interval, Bastin was in action at both ends. First he crossed low but just beyond Pope at the far post before he made a miraculous goal line clearance after Green’s low free kick caused chaos in the Weston penalty area.
Reid hit a shot that was going wide but took a deflection for Weston’s first corner of the afternoon. Grubb delivered to the near post where he picked out Dodd who could only flick it first time wide. Green then stabbed an effort beyond the far post before Weston’s quick passing game pushed Welling back and forced them to defend hard.
Robbie Willmott shot wide for the Seagulls when getting on the end of a weak header out then Dodd arrived late to meet Grubb’s free kick but couldn’t keep his header down.
Fourteen minutes remained when Weston levelled and again it was a combination of Grubb and Dodd that did the damage. The former picked the latter out just inside the penalty area and his clean side-footer gave Charles-Cook no chance.
Antony Papadopoulos was brought on as a substitute for Welling and when Lachlan Byrd headed his free kick over at the end of the ninety minutes, it appeared that the Wings would drop two points. However, Papadopoulos had other ideas. Having started a move in midfield with a pinpoint pass out wide, he burst forward, collected Green’s pass, surged past his marker, and fired a low shot that was too powerful for Harris at the near post.
As the Seagulls went for an equaliser, the tenacity and skills of Adigun created space for him to find David Amoo, another substitute, and the Ebbsfleet United loanee gave Harris no chance as he smashed home an unstoppable shot.
Victory left Welling with a five point buffer between them and the drop zone with difficult away matches to come, at Hampton and Richmond Borough on Tuesday, and Chippenham Town on Saturday.
Welling United: Charles-Cook, Johnson (Lema 87), Green, Byrd, Ellul, Di Trolio, Adigun, A. Grant, Fish (Amoo 69), R. Grant, Kennedy (Papadopoulos 79). Subs not used: Pitterson, Burchell.
Goalscorers: Fish (32), Papadopoulos (90+1), Amoo (90+4)
Yellow card: Fish, A. Grant, R. Grant
Weston-super-Mare: Harris, Pope, Araoye, Taylor-Clarke, Humphries, Avery, Willmott, Dodd, Reid, Grubb, Bastin. Unused Subs not used: Butchers, Jackson, Mannings, Soule, Kempster.
Goalscorers: Dodd (76)
Yellow cards: Taylor-Clarke
Referee: Nick Dun
Assistants: Patrick Nixon and Joanne Harwood
Attendance: 672
Images courtesy of Dave Budden