Non-league round-up: Welling facing must-win as drop fears deepen – Cray Valley defeat Dulwich Hamlet
edmund@slpmedia.co.uk
Welling United were unable to cut the gap to National League South safety after a 0-0 draw at home to mid-table Hornchurch on Saturday.
The Wings are seven points behind 20th-placed Enfield and only have four games left to play this season.
Interim boss Brian Statham takes his side to Hampton & Richmond Borough tomorrow and they must win in order to have any chance of pulling off a great escape.
“The weather was the best part of the day,” said Statham on the Hornchurch draw. “We drew against a side who have done really well since winning promotion and it was always going to be a tough gig.
“The players showed a lot of endeavour. If we had more quality, we could have got something out of it.
“We got ourselves into reasonable positions, it was just that final third.
“It’s seven points, so we’re still in with a fight, right? The boys know – they see it. We will go again on Saturday.
“I don’t need to motivate them, they understand where they are – they’re desperate to get out of it.
“We will remain upbeat and do whatever it takes to get us out. We have 12 points to play for.”
Cray Valley PM edged closer to securing their play-off spot in the Isthmian League Premier Division after a 3-1 win over South London rivals Dulwich Hamlet.
Danny Waldren, Marcel Barrington and an own goal from Dulwich defender Ben Mason cancelled out Michael Chambers’ early opener.
Steve McKimm’s side are seven points clear of dropping out of the play-offs and six points away from league leaders Dartford with four games to go.
They head to Hashtag United on Saturday.
“I’m very pleased,” said McKimm.
“We needed the three points massively today and with other teams losing, that’s helped us as well.
“We had trust and faith in the players and we knew what we had on the bench to bring on.
“Credit to our backline and credit to our forward line for taking their chances when they came. We knew we could get back into it and we got our just rewards – the players deserve it.
“We have a good group of players. We thought we would go for it with 25 minutes left to go to force a winner.
“Our goalkeeper was a spectator in the second half. The team knows they have four games to play, four games to win, and then they’re in the play-offs. That’s been our aim all the way throughout the season.”
Dulwich’s gap to the relegation zone has been cut to just five points after Hendon won 2-1 over Chichester City.
Bradley Quinton’s side have lost their last four league outings and head to 21st-placed Bognor Regis Town.
Cray Wanderers moved up to 10th in the Isthmian League Premier Division after a 2-0 win over Billericay Town.
Bromley loanee Soul Kader and Nyren Clunis scored second-half goals.
PICTURE: ROMANA RULE/INSPIRE SOCIALS
