One week shy of the start of National League South season, Welling United enjoyed victory over a young QPR side.
Once again manager Steve King made changes to his starting line-up and also experimented with his formation.
Already, he has put together a squad that has quality all over the pitch and there’s huge competition for the remaining squad places amongst the trialists.
Jack Jebb was one of the few players already signed when King took over and he cannot have failed to impress his new manager with an outstanding display. In the first few minutes he sent over a free kick that Gavin McCallum met with a header that was palmed out by Rangers’ goalkeeper Harvey White.
McCallum was again denied when a header went wide as Welling dominated the early stages and it came as no surprise when they went ahead after twenty-two minutes. Nassim L’Ghoul played a delightful pass in behind the defence to send Craig Braham-Barrett away and his cross found Danny Mills who finished well.
However, that served to awaken the young Rangers side and after Chay Tilt had a shot saved easily by Dan Wilks, they levelled when Charlie Owens ended a good move with a shot that was deflected home.
Arimide Otheh saw a long range shot go wide harmlessly before a fierce drive by Dzshane Dalling was beaten out by Wilks.
Another Jebb free kick was met by the head of Yannis Ambroisine but Q.P.R. again came close when Faysal Battache got Oteh behind however his flicked effort beat Wilks but also the far post.
After the break, Welling took control. McCallum headed over from a Jebb free kick then the latter brought a flying save out of White. A Jebb corner then picked out Mills whose powerful header drew a great save out of White.
Twelve minutes into the second half, Welling regained the lead. Themis Kefalas brought down Mills outside the area earning him a yellow card. However, full punishment was served when Jebb sent one of his trade-mark free kicks into the top corner.
Nassim L’Ghoul sent in a cross that the twisting McCallum headed just wide, then McCallum fired wide of the near post.
Eventually McCallum had to open his account and it came when he met another excellent Jebb free kick with a header that gave White no chance.
An un-named trialist, who would have scored with his first touch had it not been for an excellent save, added Welling’s fourth. L’Ghoul was the creator and the finish was outstanding.
In the closing minutes, fifteen year old Nathan Gale came on for his first senior appearance for the Wings.
Welling entertain Millwall on Monday before travelling to Dorking on Tuesday evening to complete their pre-season campaign.
Welling United: Wilks, Gibbons, Braham-Barrett, Ijaha, Ambroisine, Audal, McCallum, Mendy, Mills, Jebb, L’Ghoul. Substitutes included: Kissock, Orlu, Goldberg, Banya, Gale.
Queens Park Rangers: White, Fagbo (Constantino 46), Williams, Owens (Seixas 46), Kefalas, Fox (Noel-McCled 73), Tilt, Bettache (Bansal-McNulty 68), Oteh, Agyemang, Dalling. Unused Substitute: Genovisi).
Referee: Jack Bonnick
Assistants: Joe Kasper and Billy Woods
Fourth Official: Tom Fennelly
Man of the Match: Jack Jebb
Welling
Goals: Mills (22), Jebb (53), McCallum (71), Trialist (74).
Yellow cards: Orlu
Red cards: None
QPR
Goals: Owens (28)
Yellow cards: Kefalas
Red cards: None
Images courtesy of Dave Budden