Welling still in National South bottom two but claim point against full-time Maidstone United

BY MARK DOIG

After their poor performance at Torquay on Saturday, Welling United claimed a well deserved point against Maidstone United.

Sometimes another game quickly after a bad day can be the best medicine and it certainly was for Welling.

Two games in four days against full-time teams might have appeared a tough ask, but the Wings finished the stronger against Maidstone and could easily have taken all three points.

Lewis White had an early shot deflected into the arms of Lucas Covolan before young Welling goalkeeper Javarn Pitterson made a good debut save from Levi Amantchi.

White had another opportunity when Tristan Abrahams sent him clear but Covolan blocked his fierce drive and recovered quickly to save Kain Adom’s follow up.

Former Wing Devonte Aransibia twice created chances for the Stones, first finding Sam Bone, who shot wide, then crossing for Amantchi, whose header was saved.

Aransibia had a shot blocked out for the visitors then Bone had a shot deflected over after a good run by Sol Wanjau-Smith as they enjoyed a spell on top.

Welling had the last chance of the first half when Crossley Lema arrowed a shot just beyond the far post after Dominic Odusanya’s initial effort had been blocked.

After the interval TJ Bramble had a shot beaten out allowing the Stones a chance on the counter-attack. Sol Wanjau-Smith burst away and let fly and Pitterson did well to beat out his shot. It came back out to the Maidstone striker to shoot again but Lachlan Byrd showed his refusal to concede when blocking it away for a corner with his face.

Tristan Abrahams created Welling’s next opportunity, setting up White but his shot was too straight and Covolan was able to hold on low down.

As the game moved into the closing stages, Welling looked the more likely to claim the winner. Antony Papadopoulos fired over after Covolan dropped a corner before he turned provider for Adom. Although he lost his footing, he was still able to hook a shot which crashed out off the post.

Almost against the run of play, Wanjau-Smith’s pace again got him clear and Pitterson did well to turn his shot away before Lema had one last chance that Covolan saved well at the near post.

Although Welling remain in the National League South bottom two, the performance helped to banish the horror show four days earlier.

PICTURES: DAVE BUDDEN

Main Pic: Kain Adom is taken out by former Wing Sam Corne