Welling United 1 Slough Town 2 – Wings’ revival halted by promotion chasers

By Mark Doig

Welling United’s recent revival was put on a temporary hold as promotion chasing Slough Town claimed the three points at Park View Road.

Victory for the Rebels returned them to second place in the league and it was clear to see how their success has derived. There were only two changes to the Slough team that beat Welling in October while the Wings only had three starters in common in the two games. Even when comparing the current Slough squad to last season’s, the majority is the same.

Whilst the first half was pretty evenly matched, with Welling maybe just shading it, Slough were the better team after the interval and deserved their win, even if it was with the aid of a soft penalty.

They may have gone ahead in the opening exchanges but Welling were indebted to Nathan Green being in the right place at the right time to clear a Dan Roberts shot off the line.

At the other end Cameron James was off target then Anthony Cook’s first touch got him in behind but his second was too heavy and Jack Turner was alert and smothered it.

Dipo Akinyemi then did well to create a chance for himself but it drifted inches wide of the far post.

Having defended a number of long throws and corners well, Welling were finally undone by a Matthew Lench delivery when Ben Harris got his head on it and flicked it on. Lee Togwell then got his head on it and Roberts got on the end of it to nod home.

Dan Wilks then got down well to make a good save from Harris as he tried a reverse shot before Welling levelled. James shot from out wide and Turner looked to have it covered but somehow it found its way inside the far post.

After the interval, Lench fired over from fifteen yards before George Wells had a long cross/shot turned over by Dan Wilks then headed wide from the resulting corner. Togwell had a shot turned wide by Wilks then his brother, Sam, headed wide from Lench’s corner.

Fifteen minutes remained when the Rebels were gifted the winner. A ball over the top caught Harold Joseph out of position and as he scrambled to get back, his raised arm struck the ball and a penalty was awarded. Roberts stepped up and fired into the corner giving Wilks no chance.

Although Quinton threw on Korrey Henry and Brad Goldberg, only Cook’s thirty five yard free kick required Turner to save and he saw it all the way and pushed it over.

Welling United: Wilks, Johnson, Green, Crichlow-Noble, Joseph, Wright, James, (Goldberg 82), Krabbendam (Cosgrave 64), Akinyemi, Roberts (Henry 75), Cook. Subs not used: Coombes, Agyemang.

PICTURES BY DAVE BUDDEN