Welling United safe from National League South drop but lose 3-0 at St Albans City

BY MARK DOIG

Missed chances proved costly for Welling United as they fell to a 3-0 defeat at St Albans City.

It was frustrating for the Wings as they played some free-flowing passing football and were much the better team for large parts of the game.

When the two teams met earlier in the season, St. Albans enjoyed a straight-forward 3-0 victory at Park View Road but although the scoreline was the same at the Mozarella Fellas Stadium at Clarence Park, it was a very different game.

Kodi Foster-Lyons had the first chance of the match after being set up brilliantly by Christie Pattisson, but he failed to hit the target when well placed.

In their first attack, in the seventh minute, the hosts took the lead. Kyran Wiltshire sent Glenn McConnell clear and he finished clinically.

Despite the setback Welling continued to make the Saints chase shadows and created another chance when Dan Nkrumah left Aidan Francis-Clarke in his wake but shot wide of the far post. Stefan Payne then had an opportunity created by Pattisson but his shot crashed against the bar and over before Wings goalkeeper Kai McKenzie-Lyle made regulation saves from Joy Mukena and Chay Cooper.

Payne missed Welling’s best chance just before the break when Medy Elito crossed and the striker, who led the line so well, headed over from six yards out.

After the break, the game was a little more even with both teams having half chances before the hosts increased their lead 20 minutes in. Francis-Clarke found McConnell and he finished ruthlessly.

Welling manager Warren Feeney responded by sending on two attacking players, Ade Azeez and Kyrell Lisbie, in an attempt to get something out of the game, risking being caught out at the other end.

McConnell had a chance to complete his hat-trick when his powerful drive was beaten away by McKenzie-Lyle but Welling continued to look for openings. Azeez had a shot saved by Dylan Berry then James Dunne shot wide after Nkrumah’s effort was blocked.

Mitchell Weiss took advantage of Welling throwing men forward by adding a third with 11 minutes remaining. He burst down the left before easing in and slotting inside the far post.

Although defeat meant that Welling weren’t mathematically safe, the bottom four teams, five of the seven teams below the Wings, including the bottom four, were also beaten and two of them were no longer able to catch Feeney’s team.

PICTURES: MICHAEL BROWN