Welling United 3 Oxford City 1 – Wings return to winning ways

BY MARK DOIG

Following their mixed start to the season, Welling United manager Mark Goldberg saw the game against Oxford City as a ‘must-win’ match.

Although they had spells of the game when they weren’t at their best, they were deserved winners overall.

Connor Dymond’s return from injury was a big boost to the Wings and his inclusion was the only change to a team from the one that started against Billericay in midweek.

Eddie Jones fired across the face of goal before Joe Oastler was unable to find the target with a header as Oxford started the quicker.

Rob Swaine did likewise from Sanchez Ming’s long free kick at the other end but exciting minutes were few and far between in the first half.

Bradley Goldberg got on the end of an Adam Coombes cross but the angle was tight and Craig King turned his shot around the post. Next Joe Anderson fired over from Ming’s deep cross, again with the angle against him. Then Gavin McCallum had the last shot of the half but King saved easily.

Again, Welling started a half slowly when play resumed and Craig Fasanmade shot straight at Dan Wilks before Nana Owusu shot well over from out wide when a cross might have been the better option.

Slowly, Welling started to get a hold on the match and King made a flying save to keep out a Coombes free kick.

Coombes came close again with a shot that was deflected over but Welling went ahead from the corner. Swaine’s header hit a defender and came back to him and his drive across the face of the goal hit Dymond inside the six yard box and ricocheted into the net.

Substitute Kyran Wiltshire had a great chance to level immediately but headed Josh Ashby’s cross over when unmarked at the near post. Wiltshire then crossed and Fasanmade had a spectacular over-head kick blocked.

However, it was Wiltshire who levelled when he again combined well with Ashby before squeezing a prod through Wilks.

Welling came back and went back ahead, Former Wing Ben Jefford brought down Aaran Cosgrave in the area and Coombes powered his conversion beyond King.

This time Welling were not put under any pressure and created all the remaining openings.

First Luke Rooney had a shot deflected over then Swaine fired over before Coombes scored the goal that ensured they claimed all the points. Anderson opened up the defence with a ball that put Coombes behind and the Welling striker duly obliged when one on one with King.

Welling United: Wilks, Ming, Anderson, Dymond, Swaine, Rich-Baghuelou, Cook (Green 76), Rooney, Goldberg (Oyinsan 80), Coombes, McCallum (Cosgrave 58). Unused subs: Copeland, Agyemang.