Welling climb National League South table after Havant & Waterlooville draw
BY MARK DOIG
Although not guaranteeing National League South safety Welling United’s draw at Havant & Waterlooville moved them up to fifteenth place in the league table.
Whilst goals have been harder to come by in recent matches, Rod Stringer’s defence has come to the fore with just one goal conceded in their last four matches. The draw extended their extraordinary run to just two defeats in seventeen league matches.
On a miserable wet Wednesday night, chances were few and far between as the constant drizzle made the artificial surface very skiddy with both teams over-hitting passes.
Both goalkeepers made early straight forward saves, Reice Charles-Cook claiming Jack Jebb’s deflected shot, then Ross Worner held Jason Adigun’s effort at the second attempt.
Adigun then thought that he was away when Reece Grant turned Devante Stanley but the defender showed great pace to get back and make a tremendous tackle on the Charlton Athletic loanee.
After James Roberts was well off target, Stanley made another important intervention when deflecting Cameron Green’s shot wide.
Roberts tried his luck from distance twice more but to no avail before the Hawks had a chance with half time looming when Jonas Mukuna had a clear sight of goal. However, Riccardo Di Trolio got across to make a brilliant block.
Early in the second half, Havant came close when a corner wasn’t cleared and Roberts’ shot took a deflection that hit the bar. It came back out and was blocked then Joe McNerney had a header cleared off the line by Jack Burchell. Roberts tried to find the far post but his effort took a slight deflection on its way wide.
Rod Stringer, the Welling manager, had seen enough and changed the shape of the team by replacing David Amoo with Jack Munns. The change almost had an immediate effect as Green found space down the left hand side and his brilliant cross-field pass sent Gene Kennedy through. Worner reacted by coming out quickly and making a great block.
Kennedy had another chance when he hooked over from close range after a corner was knocked down.
There were no further clear-cut chances, and although not mathematically safe, it would take an extraordinary run of results from a number of clubs for the Wings to drop.
PICTURES: DAVE BUDDEN
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