Welling United earn National League South victory over Bath City
BY MARK DOIG
Josh Redfearn scored the only goal inside the first 20 minutes as Welling United beat Bath City 1-0 in National League South yesterday.
In the 15 days since the Wings’ last game they had trimmed their squad with goalkeepers Daniel Jinadu and Javarn Pitterson leaving the club along with outfield players Mitchel Bergkamp, Anointed Chukwu, Garrett Kelly and Paul Osew with Ben Wells available for transfer.
Injuries to Daniel Martin and Harvey Walker, plus a one-match suspension for Anthony Grant, meant that Rod Stringer was down to his last 16 players. He decided to go with a back four and make subtle changes to the shape in front of them as the game progressed and it paid dividends in the final quarter of the match as Bath were nullified when searching for an equaliser.
Early on, it looked as though it could be a long afternoon for the Wings.
Elliott Frear had a low drive saved by Rhys Lovett before the visitors looked certain to score when Luke Russe was presented with a gilt-edged chance.
It seemed as though all that he needed to do was to prod it home from five yards out however Lovett appeared from nowhere to smother it on the line.
That proved costly to the Romans as Welling went ahead in the 19th minute. A long, high through ball by Jack Burchell came down just behind the Bath backline and Redfearn controlled it on his knee before lobbing over stranded goalkeeper Harvey Wiles-Richards and inside the far post.
Lovett produced another excellent save to deny Jordan Alves whose low shot was destined for the far corner then Martell Taylor-Crossdale fired over for Welling after TJ Bramble had worked hard to claim possession from some sloppy playing out from the back.
Just before half-time, Lovett was again called into action when using his feet to block Danny Greenslade’s shot and Scott Wilson headed wide from the rebound.
After the break, both goalkeepers made easy saves – Lovett from Alves and Wiles-Richards from Zain Walker before Alves shot wide from long range. Shortly after the hour mark, Lovett held on to a Frear effort from the left hand side.
Although the Romans had more of the possession, Welling held their shape and kept their visitors to sideways or backwards passing at a low tempo, meaning that Lovett was not troubled again.
In fact, if there was to be a further goal, it was more likely to have come from the Wings and their training ground routines from Sam Cornish corners.
Stringer and assistant Kevin Watson now have a week to reflect and plan ready for their trip to Salisbury on Saturday.
PICTURES: DAVE BUDDEN