Once again, threadbare Welling United defied the odds by beating Weston-super-Mare.

Although bottom of the league, in Weston’s last match they were reduced to ten men but still came back from two down to earn a point and fifth placed Chelmsford City.

So short-numbered were Welling that they had to bring in Sanchez Ming on a one month loan but still only had three substitutes.

They were soon on the attack and David Ijaha, returning from suspension, had their first shot at goal. However, Weston had their own ambitions and George Nurse got forward and let fly but was well on target.

Bradley Goldberg had an opportunity when emergency striker Thierry Audel headed on Dan Wilks’ long clearance but he was unable to keep his shot down.

Ijaha had another shot that was charged out by Weston goalkeeper Luke Purnell before he made another save from Goldberg.

Once more Purnell was needed when saving from Brendan Kiernan who then turned creator but Goldberg fired over.

It was not all one way traffic though, and Weston came close when Matt Bower’s header from Nurse’s free kick came back off the post.

After the break Anthony Acheampong and Gethyn Hill collided and both needed extensive treatment before returning to action.

Aaron Parsons sent Jamie Lucas away but his low shot was well saved by Wilks. He made another save soon after, getting down well to save Jason Pope’s long range shot.

Hill then looked to have got behind the back four but the excellent Acheampong got back well to make a crucial block.

Having seen off the hosts’ best spell of the game, Kiernan fired in a shot that was blocked into the path of Goldberg but his shot was saved well by Purnell.

Goldberg had another effort saved by Purnell before Pope was unable to get any purchase on his drive and Wilks saved comfortably.

A first time shot by Hill went wide before Nurse cut in and fizzed a shot just over.

Six minutes remained when Welling scored the crucial goal. Kiernan burst into the area and Parsons’ challenge was deemed illegal. Goldberg stepped up and gave Purnell no chance with a fierce conversion into the bottom corner.

Gavin McCallum had a shot saved by Purnell then Hill headed over from a corner.

That proved to be Weston’s last chance as Welling claimed the three points to take them back up to third in the table.

Weston-super-Mare: Purnell, Parsons, Nurse, Cane, Lee, Bower, Pope (Llwellyn 85), Diallo, Lucas (Welch 90), Jackson (Hill 7), Byrne.

Subs not used: Harper, Thomas-Barker.

Welling United: Wilks, Ming, Genovesi, Ijaha, Acheampong, Hill, Audel, McCallum (Anau 87), Newton, Goldberg, Mendy (Newton 76).

Subs not used: Agyemang.

 

Weston-super-Mare:

Goalscorers: None

Yellow cards: None

Red cards: None

Welling United:

Goalscorers: Goldberg pen (84)

Yellow cards: None

Red cards: None

Referee: Richard Gardner

Assistants: Alan Berrow and Oliver Spender

Attendance: 572

Welling star player: Brendan Kiernan

Images courtesy of Dave Budden