Shot-shy Welling pick up point in goalless draw at Dover

BY MARK DOIG

Shot-shy Welling United claimed a point in a goalless draw at Dover Athletic that might turn out to be important as they look to ease their way to safety.

That leaves the Wings six points clear of the bottom four with five games to play. 

Their goal difference means that, in effect, Cheshunt will need to pick up at least seven more points than Welling in the last five of the season, while teams below Cheshunt will need an even better run in.

Kai McKenzie-Lyle returned in goal following clean sheets in the two games he played for Guyana in the CONCACAF Nations Cup, and he was by far the busier of the two goalkeepers.

He started with an easy save from a header by Andi Janjeva before making a comfortable save from a Freddie Oliver long shot. Brandon Pierrick’s low cross found Myles Judd, but he could only poke it into the hands of the Welling goalkeeper.

His best save came soon after when he blocked Lee Martin’s close=range shot before Luke Wanadio cut in from the left and shot, but McKenzie-Lyle was watchful and pushed it away despite a difficult bounce.

Early in the second half, Martin blasted a free kick over, and then Jake Goodman arrived late at the far post but couldn’t beat McKenzie-Lyle. Jordan Higgs threaded Wanadio through. However, Kodi Lyons-Foster got back to crowd him out.

Having been second best for the first seventy minutes, Welling put together a fine move down the right-hand side, allowing Ade Azeez to get a shot away that hit the arm of Higgs in the penalty area. Despite their protests, the referee was unmoved.

There were no further goal attempts, but there was an incident after the final whistle when Welling manager Warren Feeney was shown a second yellow card followed by a red card.

PICTURES: MICHAEL BROWN