Welling United draw 2-2 against Braintree Town as groundstaff work wonders to get National League South game on

BY MARK DOIG

Despite the difficult playing surface caused by heavy rain, neither Welling United nor Braintree Town short-changed their supporters in a competitive National League South match on Saturday.

Special recognition should be given to groundsman Jamie Honeyman and the supporters who volunteered to work on the pitch during the morning of the game while getting soaked in the pouring rain.

Rod Stringer, the Welling manager, rested centre-half Joe Ellul, and brought in new signing Riccardo Di Trolio, brought in on loan from Coventry City. Anthony Grant was also restored to the starting line-up after his one-match ban in place of Gene Kennedy, who was given a spot on the bench.

Coming into the game, Braintree were unbeaten in nine, having won their last seven games, while the Wings were unbeaten in seven league games. Braintree’s run had launched them into fourth place while the Wings, whose position had looked hopeless a few weeks earlier, had climbed out of the drop zone.

After an early quick start for the Iron, Welling went ahead when Jack Burchell got on the end of Sonny Fish’s low pass across the penalty area and made no mistake from close range.

Tom Blackwell headed straight at the hosts’ goalkeeper Reice Charles-Cook before Braintree levelled. Although Charles-Cook did well to beat out Shaq Coulthirst’s header, he was powerless to stop Aaron Blair from nodding home the rebound.

As the game approached stoppage time, Welling were awarded a penalty when Crossley Lema’s shot hit the arm of the Irons’ Dominic Odusanya. Following the departure of Tristan Abrahams, Reece Grant took on the responsibility and sent Jack Sims the wrong way.

Four minutes later, parity was restored when a shot was deemed to have hit the arm of Lachlan Byrd and a spot-kick was awarded at the other end. Coulthirst was equally successful with a confident conversion.

Just as they had in the first half, Braintree enjoyed a lot of early pressure without creating a clear cut chance and it was former Welling goalkeeper Sims who kept the scores level. His first save was a smart low one from Fish, who had gone on an energy-sapping run before trying to slot it home.

Kennedy was introduced from the bench and immediately fizzed a shot wide from outside the penalty area before Fish and Cameron Green combined to slip Anthony Grant through. He shot early but Sims dived to keep his effort out.

Less than 10 minutes remained when Sims made one more excellent save. A blocked shot by Fish fell into the path of Di Trolio and his drive was kept out by another flying save from the visitors’ custodian.

On Tuesday, Welling travel to Farnborough as they start a run of three games on the road.

PICTURES: DAVE BUDDEN

Main pIc: Reece Grant fires in a shot