Former Millwall striker scores hat-trick for Welling United

BY MARK DOIG

Bromley loanee George Alexander claimed a first-half hat-trick as Welling United completed their three games on the road with a resounding 3-0 victory at Slough Town.

Last term the Wings only won once by more than one goal, away to Chippenham. This season their 5-0 victory over Oxford City had been their only one by more than the odd goal until they went to Slough.

They were helped by sub-standard Rebels defending but they took full advantage with Alexander being alert to every opportunity. The former Millwall schoolboy, and son of ex-Lions striker Gary, has joined the Wings for game time and goals before returning to the Ravens at the end of the current campaign.

It was not a one-man show though. Welling’s back four were outstanding and when they were breached, Myles Roberts was determined not to be beaten.

Ade Azeez might have put Welling ahead in the fourth minute but sidefooted wide from Rob Howard’s pass. The Wings didn’t have to wait long before going ahead when Slough made a mess of the goal-kick. Goalkeeper Will Dennis took it quickly, passing to Scott Davies but he squared to under pressure Temi Eweka. He tried to hoof it clear but it struck Azeez and rebounded to Alexander, who made no mistake when lashing it past Dennis.

Matt Lench twice shot over from outside the penalty area and Elliot Benyon headed wide before the Azeez and Alexander A-team struck again. Howard delivered a diagonal free-kick, Azeez nodded it on and Alexander knocked it up to enable him to flick it past Denny and into the net.

There was almost an immediate response when Josh Jackman cut in from the right-hand side and shot low left footed. His effort beat Roberts but struck the post. The rebound came out to Benyon whose follow up shot was cleared off the line by Kodi Lyons-Foster.

Player-manager Davies then had another defensive mishap when his attempted chest down to his keeper was anticipated and intercepted by Alexander, and clipped home.

Davies took himself off at the break and changed his formation but Welling started the stronger and Amadou Kassarate had a shot well saved before Azeez shot wide of the near post after good build up between Kassarate, Medy Elito and Alexander.

After that Welling sat back more to defend their lead while some of their supporters will have had memories of two seasons earlier when they had been 4-1 up with minutes remaining and ended up clinging on for a 4-4 draw.

James Dobson fired over having been teed up by Louis Walsh, who then tried a cross that caught in the wind and was saved by Roberts at full length.

Roberts twice clawed it out from under the bar in a goalmouth scramble before making another outstanding save from Eweka, who had been played in behind the Welling defence.

Six minutes remained when Alexander was withdrawn and replaced by Kyrell Lisbie. He was left frustrated when Dennis blasted his rushed clearance straight at Eweka. It rebounded into the path of Lisbie, who had the goal at his mercy, only for the referee’s whistle to blow for a perceived head injury.

Despite the late setback, the three goals, three points, and a clean sheet finished Welling’s away streak in style going into three home games in eight days from Tuesday evening.

PICTURES: DAVE BUDDEN