Welling kick-off National League South campaign with home win over Aveley
BY MARK DOIG
Rod Stringer’s Welling United started the 2024-25 season with a home victory against Aveley.
Since taking over the manager’s role, Stringer is yet to taste league defeat at Park View Road in a run extended to eleven games. His overall league record with the Wings is now two defeats in nineteen games.
He has been busy during the summer, replacing the departing loanees and the players who have moved on, but they have had a decent pre-season campaign and he got the good start that he wanted against a team that reached the play-offs last term.
It was not a vintage performance on a humid afternoon and two debutants, goalkeeper Rhys Lovett and centre-back Dave Winfield, contested the Welling player of the match award. However, other than a spell in the first half, the Wings had the larger percentage of possession and greater territorial advantage.
Winfield was in early action at the attacking end when meeting a Gene Kennedy free kick but his header was saved comfortably by Carey Bloedorn. TJ Bramble then shot wide after Kennedy’s shot was blocked into his path.
Playing down the slope in the first half, Aveley then enjoyed a good spell and Lovett was called into making an excellent save from a Harry Gibbs header before turning over an Eze Ikechi free kick.
He was called into action once more when saving another Gibbs header before Welling finished the half in the ascendancy. Live-wire Elliot Long shot into the side netting, then Kennedy fired wide of the other post after making space skilfully.
Reece Grant replaced Bramble at the break and, after Kennedy’s shot had whistled wide, he almost scored despite knowing little about it. Martell Taylor-Crossdale’s cross hit the Welling substitute and it flew wide.
Just after the hour mark, Welling broke the deadlock with a goal worthy of winning any match. Taylor-Crossdale’s close control allowed him to ease in, make space for himself, and fire into the top corner.
Joshua Anifowose had an opportunity to level soon after but Lovett narrowed the angle and made a great block with his legs.
Lovett wasn’t troubled again as Welling controlled the remaining twenty minutes and Long twice had shots that were half blocked to take the sting out of them, and Bloedorn was able to hold.
Stringer used all five substitutes so was able to see sixteen players in competitive action, ten for the first time, and has ‘food for thought’ ahead of their difficult trip to Bath City next Saturday.
PICTURES: DAVE BUDDEN