Wings extend unbeaten run after goalless draw at home with St Albans

BY MARK DOIG

Danny Bloor’s Welling United extended their unbeaten run to three games as they drew at home with St Albans City.

It was also a second consecutive clean sheet for goalkeeper Ben Winterbottom and his defence who are now looking far more solid.

Both teams tried to pass it around with many moves starting at the back however the congested midfield and two well drilled defences meant that chances were few and far between.

Whilst Bloor’s defence looks good, they are still struggling to find a goalscorer and the seven goals scored before the St Albans game had been shared by seven different goalscorers. To try and resolve that issue, he signed Adam Roscrow on loan from New Saints in Wales and he was given an immediate debut.

However, that was scuppered in the eleventh minute. Roscrow burst down the right and when he collided with Sam Brown, he crumpled to the ground. After receiving treatment, it was clear that he could not continue and he was carried off the pitch to be replaced by Alex MacAllister.

Despite the setback, Welling were the better team in the first half but for all their patient build-up play, they couldn’t break down an obstinate Saints defence.

Jack Burchell, who scored Welling’s winner at Tonbridge Angels, had their first chance but could not garner the power to beat Michael Johnson.

Jephte Tanga shot across the face of goal after collecting Cameron Green’s superb diagonal pass from the other wing before a sublime flick from Lewis White sent James Vaughan clear but his side-footer was saved comfortably by Johnson.

Johnson made another save from White before Winterbottom was called into his first meaningful action when bursting out to block tackle Jack James.

Andronicos Georgiou cut in and fired over for the visitors early in the second half before Vaughan had a free kick saved after White had been brought down on the edge of the area. Tanga fizzed a shot just wide for Welling with Johnson beaten before Winterbottom saved comfortably from James’ drive.

An appeal for a Welling penalty, when substitute Kain Adom appeared to be clipped in the area, was denied before the visitors finished strongly.

Substitute Shaun Jeffers had a free kick beaten out by Winterbottom but James’ follow up shot was blocked, then Michael Clark headed wide from a corner. One more scramble in the Welling goalmouth could have resulted in a goal but defenders threw themselves into the path of the shots and the Wings were able to clear.

On Tuesday night, Welling travel to Worthing looking to extend their run.

PICTURES: DAVE BUDDEN