Welling United 1 Weymouth 3 – Wings only out of National League drop zone on goal difference

BY MARK DOIG

Defeat at home to Weymouth left Welling United on the precipice of the bottom two.

Goal difference separates them and St Albans City with only Hungerford Town lower than those two clubs in the Vanarama National League South table.

Chairman and manager, Mark Goldberg, may have overseen his last game from the dug-out as he confirmed after the game that he has started interviewing possible replacements to take over the running of team affairs and would like to have someone in place by next Saturday.

Against Weymouth, the three-one scoreline was tough on the Wings but they didn’t test Mark Childs enough and again conceded soft goals.

Childs saved well early on from Dipo Akinyemi but Josh McQuoid should have put Weymouth ahead soon after when firing Jordan N’Galo’s low cross over from close range.

Dan Wilks saved comfortably from Abdulai Baggie before Childs made another good stop from Akinyemi’s low drive. Korrey Henry shot into the side netting when Rob Swaine’s strong tackle sent him through but it was Baggie who broke the deadlock one minute before the interval. Welling failed to hold onto the ball and had two or three chances to clear but Baggie got through and fired low past Wilks one minute. In first half injury time he came close again but Ejiro Okosieme made a superb goal-line clearance.

Anthony Cook’s whipped in free kick only needed a touch to turn it in then Childs made a low save from Cook after good work by Gavin McCallum.

Jay Rich-Baghuelou fired just wide from twenty-five yards before Welling scored a well merited equaliser. McCallum pulled it back from the right wing and Cook fired low past Childs into the bottom corner.

Former Wing Josh Wakefield fired over when Welling failed to clear but his next foray forward drew another defensive error. He broke into the penalty area and Swaine dived in when he probably didn’t need to and conceded a penalty. McQuoid converted with power and precision.

Akinyemi had a shot saved comfortably by Childs then Wilks made an excellent one from N’Galo as the game headed towards the closing stages.

Goldberg took a gamble by throwing Nathan Green forward from left back and he almost got rewarded when Green found Danny Waldren with a cross but the midfield couldn’t get sufficient power in his header and Childs saved easily.

However, Welling paid the cost in injury time when Ben Thompson sent McCarthy away and he finished with a good shot inside the far post.

Welling United: Wilks; Rich-Baghuelou, Green, Waldren, Swaine, Okosieme, McCallum (Emmanuel 65), Agyemang, Henry (Cosgrave 74), Akinyemi, Cook. Subs not used: Goldberg, Anderson, Dymond.

PICTURES BY DAVE BUDDEN