Injury-hampered Welling suffer defeat home to Braintree Town

BY MARK DOIG

Inconsistent Welling United slumped to a 2-0 defeat against uncompromising Braintree Town on Wednesday evening.

Their poor disciplinary record didn’t help, and they missed the experience of James Dunne and Stefan Payne as the Iron lived up to their nickname. 

Wings manager Warren Feeney was also without injured Taylor Maloney and the departed Dylan Gavin and Aaron Powell, whose loans have expired. 

Now, down to bare bones, he has drafted in Abel Vendrells-Parcerisa and Christie Pattisson, and they took places on the bench.

Feeney was further hampered when defensive midfielder Taylor Curran picked up an injury in the first half. With no obvious replacement on the bench, forward Kyrell Lisbie was brought on, which forced Cameron Andrews to take on Curran’s role, curbing his attacking instincts.

It could have been a dream start for Welling when George Alexander played Chi Ezennolim in behind down the left-hand side. His driven cross was the type that all strikers would ask for, but nobody was able to get on the end of it when a touch was all that was needed. Next, Amadou Kassarate found Andrews, and he created a shooting opportunity for himself but blasted it wide of the near post.

Curran then went off, and the visitors went ahead within two minutes. Chris Regis launched a hopeful ball forward, Alfie Pavey nodded it on, and Aaron Blair controlled it before firing an unstoppable shot past Myles Roberts.

Alexander created an opening for Ade Azeez to level, but he struck his shot beyond the far post. Braintree then had another chance when Blair’s cross took a deflection causing it to dip invitingly to Pavey, but Roberts adjusted to make a wonderful one-handed save from his header.

Welling continued to probe but found the visitors’ defence immovable after half time, but went further behind when former Wing Alfie Matthews swung in a free-kick.

Roberts was unable to hold onto the ball, and Baris Altintop pounced to slot home before choosing to run all the way back to the halfway line to taunt Feeney rather than celebrate with his team’s supporters.

Pattisson was then introduced at the expense of Andrews, but before he had been given the chance to impose himself, Welling were reduced to ten due to yet another red card. This one did appear to be very harsh though – Matthews ducked his head and Kassarate’s slightly raised boot caught him. Surprisingly, referee Matthew Norton deemed it to be worthy of a second yellow card and the Welling player was dismissed.

That sealed Welling’s fate and the game played out with them failing to muster a single shot on target in the full ninety minutes plus stoppage time. In fact, had it not been for a late low save by Roberts to thwart Pavey, the scoreline might have been worse.

On Saturday, Welling host Chippenham Town and Feeney will be delighted to have Dunne and Payne back in contention for a start.

PICTURES: DAVE BUDDEN