Welling United forced to settle for stalemate at Hungerford Town

BY MARK DOIG

Neither side was able to find the net when Welling United visited Hungerford Town on Saturday.

Although the Crusaders are struggling this season, their recent form has been much improved with three wins in their previous four National League South games. They also came into the match having only lost once at home since the end of October.

Difficulties in scoring goals again hit the Wings. If the front two, and Stefan Payne, don’t get onto the scoresheet then Welling struggle in that department.

New signing Christie Pattisson tried hard to change that and he had almost as many shots at goal in the match as Welling had in their three previous matches.

On a bouncy, hard pitch that made close control difficult, Welling kicked down the pronounced slope in the first half and they might have had a one-man advantage after just four minutes. Matt Berry-Hargreaves grabbed George Alexander by the throat and appeared to want to push him over the perimeter wall. Referee Robert Ablitt conferred with his assistant before the relieved defender was shown a yellow, and not red, card.

Pattisson then had the first of his goal efforts with a shot that looked like it would trouble teenage goalkeeper Jed Ward before being blocked bravely by a Hungerford defender. Pattisson then crossed to Alexander, but his header was saved comfortably.

An incisive Welling move gave Pattisson another opportunity but he could not get a clean strike on his effort. Ezennolim then burst through but it ran away from him down the slope before Payne and James Dunne created another shooting chance for Pattisson, but he shot off target.

Ward breathed a sigh of relief when Alexander’s shot from Ezennolim’s cross was deflected just wide of the far post having sent him the wrong way. However, it was the hosts who almost finished the half with a goal. Dylan Adjei-Hersey cut in from the left and curled just wide with Myles Roberts struggling to get across having lost his footing.

Roberts made a good save from Christie Ward early in the second period before Pattisson volleyed into the side netting from Ezennolim’s deep cross.

Great Evans, on his Hungerford debut, shot wide before Welling were disrupted by two injuries. Pattisson had to withdraw, holding his hamstring, and Rob Howard’s afternoon was finished with a back strain.

Christie Ward drew a brilliant save out of Roberts before Adjei-Hersey missed another great chance when firing over after Joel Rollinson pulled it back.

Substitute Anthony Papadopoulos chased down and blocked a clearance from Hungerford’s goalkeeper and he was again relieved to see it rebound wide of the post before the Welling man shot just wide in stoppage time.

Warren Feeney, Welling’s manager, will have to patch his side up as they have another difficult away game at Farnborough on Tuesday evening.

PICTURES: DAVE BUDDEN

Main pic: Dylan Adjei-Hersey shoots wide