Non-league round-up: Stringer steps down at Welling United with Cray Valley picking up important victory
edmund@slpmedia.co.uk
Rod Stringer resigned as boss of Welling United after their 2-1 defeat at Farnborough on Saturday.
The Wings announced the 49-year-old’s departure on Sunday evening and confirmed that Brian Statham will be placed in temporary charge.
Stringer spent 14 months at Park View Road and guided the South Londoners to National League South safety last season.
But the Farnborough defeat leaves the Wings firmly in the bottom four and eight points from safety – with just eight games to play.
Welling owner Howard Prosser said: “Last season, Rod and Kevin Watson completed the impossible task of keeping us up, losing just two out of the final 18 games – aided by players like Joe Ellul, Jason Adigun, Sonny Fish and our existing squad – creating one of the most exhilarating run-ins and best outcomes we could ask for.
“We felt that we would kick on this season but, in reality, it has been really tough with the frustration of not picking up the results we should have.
“I know how hard Rod has worked, both day and night, to get us out of this situation and to bring in players to help aide us in our fight. But we have not been able to get the bounce we needed.
“Rod is an incredibly honest man and has handed back the managerial keys. No one more than Rod wanted this team to stay up, which is why he has made this decision. He felt he didn’t believe he was earning his salary and felt it was the right thing to do. Rod is a true friend and what he achieved last season will not be forgotten.”
Cray Valley Paper Mills strengthened their chances of securing an Isthmian League Premier Division play-off spot on Saturday after a 2-1 win over fellow promotion rivals Dover.
Ruben Soares-Junior put Dover ahead in the 56th minute, but Steve McKimm’s side equalised three minutes later through Marcel Barrington.
Tom Beere wrapped up all three points in the 73rd minute as Cray moved seven points clear of sixth-placed Carshalton.
Cray have seven games left to play and head to mid-table Lewes tomorrow.
“It was great to come back from 1-0 down,” said McKimm. “I don’t think we deserved to be 1-0 down and we took the game to them from the first minute.
“Everything we did was with a purpose and it worked. It’s credit to the players for the strength they showed to get back into it.
“It’s a fantastic result. We were at it for 90 minutes and it was a thoroughly deserved win for us.
“We dominated them in terms of physicality and tempo. Now our focus starts on Lewes.
“Football can bite you on the backside as soon as you blink, so we have to make sure we’re prepared.
“We have to play how we want to play. I don’t care for the purists and if they want to play lovely football.
“We’re in a position in the play-offs that we want to stay in. We’re going to work hard to stay in there.”
Dulwich Hamlet’s gap to the Isthmian League Premier Division relegation zone stayed at nine points as they suffered a 93rd-minute 1-0 defeat at home to Cheshunt.
Vas Vasiliou scored a penalty in second-half stoppage time for the visitors as they claimed all three points at Champion Hill.
Bradley Quinton’s side head to Dover Athletic tomorrow.
“It wasn’t one of the most enjoyable games of football to be played,” said Quinton. “We should have come in at half-time [winning] but we didn’t take our chances.
“Cheshunt came with a game plan to unsettle us and make it really awkward. They did what they needed to do and they stopped us. We have had chances to go in front and we haven’t taken them.
“Was it a penalty? It’s one of those things. We gave the ball away far too easily for the goal.
“We shot ourselves in the foot. Before today’s game, we were sixth in the form guide.
“It’s the harsh reality of football. We need to understand that we need to know how to win ugly or take a point – we didn’t do that today.”
Cray Wanderers suffered a 2-1 defeat at Carshalton Athletic in the Isthmian League Premier Division.
Victor Damyanov scored for Neil Smith’s side as they stayed mid-table and nine points off the play-offs.
The Wands host bottom of the table Bowers & Pitsea tomorrow.
PICTURE: ALAMY