In a trial game for allowing crowds back into the stadium, Welling United beat Erith and Belvedere in the battle of Park View Road.
Both teams play their home games there and, for different reasons, were happy to get 90 minutes under their belt. For the Deres it was a chance to play some football while the South Eastern Counties Football League is suspended until at least 26th December.
Bradley Quinton’s Wings were also pleased as they had been unable to play for two weeks, missing four games, as a result of a player having a positive Covid test. Their stop start season means that they have only played seven games while some clubs in the National League South have clocked up twelve.
A prompt kick off meant that the clock hadn’t struck three o’clock when the Wings went ahead. Lyle Della-Verde spotted Rilwan Anibaba off his line and lobbed home from thirty-five yards.
Ten minutes later, the goalscorer turned provider when his clever back-heel wrong footed the Deres’ defence and gave Dipo Akinyemi space to fire home from the edge of the penalty area.
Tyler Anderson had a long shot saved by Ben Roberts then, at the other end, Ade Shokunbi fired wide.
Half an hour had passed when the Deres reduced the arrears. Nathan Green was adjudged to have fouled George Humber and a penalty was awarded. Former Wing Marlon Patterson stepped up and gave Roberts no chance from the spot.
Anthony Cook went on a great run for the Wings and drew a good save out of Anibaba before James Hawkins hooked a volley that took a deflection to send it well over for Erith. Hawkins then took a free kick that Roberts had to tip over.
Both teams made multiple changes at the break and Kaleem Simon was busy for Welling early on shooting over and then just wide. Lanre Azeez was then sent clear but couldn’t beat Anibaba.
It was not all one way traffic, though, and Roberts had to be alert to make a good save from a Kameiko Pope-Campbell free kick.
However, it was Welling who struck next when Simon harried the Deres’ defence into an error before curling inside the far post. Simon then created an opening for Kareem Isiaka but Anibaba made a good close range save.
Midway through the second half, Welling scored again when Richard Danquah forced it home at the third attempt having not got a clean connection on his header or flying volley.
Roberts made a good save from Matt Neary before Marcel Barrington went on a long run but flashed his shot off target.
Anibaba made a fine save from Isiaka but Welling weren’t to be denied again and Rowan Liburd fired home a fifth with three minutes remaining.
Welling United: Roberts, Brand, Green, Della-Verde, Hobbs, Beeden, Cook, Ryan, Akinyemi, Shokunbi, Ainsworth.
Substitutes: Johnson, Danquah, Ilic, Isiaka, Blackman, Liburd, Azeez, Simon, Barrington, Atkins, Dunn, Carter.
Goalscorers: Della-Verde (1), Akinyemi (12), Simon (53), Danquah (67), Liburd (87).
Erith and Belvedere: Anibaba, Adeyemo, Anderson, Patterson, Curtis, Barrett, Dasofungo, Nosike, Humber, Hawkins, Humphris.
Substitutes: Neary, Krasniqi, Springett, Boateng, Orisatoki, McKinlay, Pope-Campbell, Abitogun.
Goalscorer: Patterson pen (30)
Images courtesy of Dave Budden