Current Welling United manager Jamie Day was a player when Adrian Pennock, now in charge at Forest Green Rovers, was running the show at Park View Road, and the two will both have enjoyed positives in their draw on Saturday.

Day selected himself for the first time this season and his free kick deliveries were a constant threat to the visitors.

Meanwhile, Forest Green posed danger up front through former West Bromwich Albion striker, Lee Hughes, and England C regular James Norwood,

Tyrone Marsh’s late arrival presented Jon Nouble with his first Welling start and he almost marked it in dream style, firing just over in the early minutes.

Kieron St. Aimie just failed to reach a Day free kick as Welling started strongly but Wings goalkeeper, Jamie Turner, had to be alert to save from Jon Parkin’s header.

Turner started ahead of Lee Butcher as the Wings’ number one had been called into night work, finishing at 06:30 a.m. After the game, Day was quick to point out the difference between the part time and full time clubs. Forest Green had spent the night in a Bexleyheath hotel.

Norwood drew another save from Turner but another Day free kick gave Welling a chance and Sam Russell made a sharp save from a Chris Bush header.

Malachi Hudson gave the Forest Green defence problems and it was his trickery that brought about the opening goal. Having drawn David Pipe out, a clever flick wrong footed the full back allowing him to drive towards the bye-line. He then pulled the ball back towards Zach Fagan only to be intercepted by Norwood who sliced into the roof of his own net.

As the fourth official prepared the board to show how many additional first half minutes would be played, Norwood made up for his error when he met a Hughes cross and finished with a clean header.

There was still time for Hudson to create another chance when catching Pipe in possession, he cut in and fired narrowly over.

Following good work by Nouble and Harry Brautyman, Jake Gallagher burst into the penalty area and appeared to be brought down by Danny Coles but the referee was not interested.

Forest Green then enjoyed their best spell of the match. Norwood had a shot well saved, then had another goal bound effort blocked by Fagan. Clovis Kamdjo headed over and Sam Wedgbury fired over before Welling brought on Sam Corne for Nouble to add some vitality in midfield.

It was then Welling’s turn to create some chances as the full backs were able to get forward more. St Aimie had a header blocked by Luke Oliver at close range and Day fired over after good set up work by Marsh.

All the hard work of Welling was almost undone when a defender knocked a near post corner into his own net but Turner made a fantastic low save to push it away.

Deep into injury time, St Aimie did well to give Day one last shooting chance but his effort flew wide of the post.

 

 

Welling United: Turner, Fazakerley, Jefford, Day, Fagan, Bush, Beautyman, Gallagher, St. Aimie, Nouble (Corne 73), Hudson (Marsh 63).

Unused substitutes: Butcher, Gorman, Williams.

Forest Green Rovers: Russell, Pipe, Stokes, Oliver, Norwood (Guthrie 90), Wedgbury, Kelly (Frear 80), Hughes (Rodgers 71), Kamdjo, Parkin, Coles.

Unused substitutes: Oshodi, Sinclair.

Referee: Stephen Ross

Attendance: 501

Welling star player: Zach Fagan

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.