Early elimination from the F.A. Trophy, combined with Gateshead’s extra time winner against Grimsby Town on Wednesday left Welling United supporters without a first team game again on Saturday so they were left with a variety of choices.

Maybe milling around shops alongside other aimless souls would appeal. Maybe going to watch another local team such as Erith and Belvedere or VCD Athletic would appear more attractive.

My choice, along with a few other regular Wings supporters, was to watch the reserve/development squad team play a Suburban League game at home to Uxbridge.

Had we been going to Gateshead, I would have needed to be up by 5am for the 08:00 out of Kings Cross. Instead I had a relaxed morning with my family. A lunchtime pint in the Crown Posada, Newcastle or the Central in Gateshead was replaced by a pint in the Long Pond in Eltham. A beer before the journey home in the Bbacchus, Newcastle was substituted by a visit to the George Staples in Blackfen.

Gateshead play their home matches in the national athletics stadium so I might have been sitting in a press box seat previously sat in by Brendan Foster. Instead I was stood on the sideline of a ‘caged’ pitch at Crown Woods School.

There were some players involved who might have travelled to the North East. Joseph Zerafa took up a defensive berth, Joe Healy returned from injury to play in midfield, whilst Reece Harris and Kieron St. Aimie started up front.

Those Welling supporters in attendance witnessed an enjoyable game. Charlie Hobday missed a good early chance for Uxbridge before Joe Tupper, the visitors goalkeeper, was called into action making saves from Harris, Healy and St. Aimie.

Stevie Gummer fired in a shot that flew wide before the Wings opened the scoring with a measured St. Aimie shot that flew into the top corner.

Joel Harrington, Welling’s goalkeeper, made a great save from the Charlie Samuel before Welling doubled their lead.

Healy slipped through a delightful pass that sent Harris away and he finished emphatically.

After 56 minutes, Welling added a third. Harris turned provider when his cross found Gummer who fired low into the bottom corner.

Baff Aganbi replaced Harris and had a header saved soon after.

St Aimie had two efforts disallowed, first when Healy pulled the ball back from behind the bye-line and then when he palmed Archie Johnson’s cross into the net. He was duly cautioned.

Another substitute, Grant Lye, curled an effort over before St. Aimie got clear but lobbed over both the goalkeeper and the crossbar.

It was a good run out for the first team players and a great opportunity for the young Wings to impress the Welling manager, Jody Brown, who watched the full 90 minutes.

One advantage of not going to Gateshead was an early return home but it will mean a midweek trip later in the season.

 

Welling United: Harrington, Brand, Johnson, Birch (Wootton 75), Plummer, Zerafa, Okran, Healy, St. Aimie, Gummer (Lye 70), Harris (Aganbi 56).

Unused substitutes: Kempton, Sondofu.

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.