Welling United grounded by Concord
BY MARK DOIG
After Welling United’s encouraging August Bank Holiday weekend, they were brought crashing down to earth with a 3-0 defeat at Concord Rangers.
Manager Mark Goldberg was dumbfounded by his team’s failure to play to their game-plan even after a half time reminder, and his team have dropped into the bottom half of the National League South table.
His son, Bradley, had the first two opportunities of the match. First Chris Haigh dropped Gavin McCallum’s centre but recovered quickly to smother Goldberg’s shot. Then he was set up by Rob Swaine’s knock down from Anthony Cook’s corner but he volleyed over.
Swaine had the next chance but he headed wide from McCallum’s corner so it was a little against the run of play when Concord went ahead. Joel Nouble’s power and strength, combined with three defenders failure to get a clean tackle on him allowed him to burst down the wing. His low cross was met by a first time side-foot volley by an unmarked Lemar Reynolds and his close range effort went in off the far post.
Reynolds was presented with another opportunity moments later but he volleyed directly at Dan Wilks who was grateful to make the save.
McCallum cut in and hit a low shot wide of the near post after Reece Prestedge and Montel Agyemang had combined well to create space for him.
Hopeful long range efforts from Kreshnic Krasniqi and Reynolds had failed to bother Wilks, before Welling missed another good opportunity. Cook’s angled free kick found Jay Rich-Baghuelou but having risen well, he failed to get enough on his header and it floated wide. Then Adam Coombes was off target with a free kick just before half time.
Early in the second period McCallum volleyed straight at Haigh before Danny Green fired a free kick wide at the other end.
Nearly twenty uneventful second half minutes had passed when Concord scored the crucial second goal. Nouble went from provider to score when showing calmness in a massive goalmouth scramble to guide his shot home.
Buoyed by the goal, Concord looked for a third and Wilks did well to save from Reynolds. He was then called upon to make a double stop, first from Decarrey Sheriff and then getting up quickly to block from Reynolds.
It came as no surprise when they added a third when Sheriff sprung the offside and squared unselfishly to present Krasniqi with an open goal.
Joe Claridge was fortunate when his header flew just wide of his own post and Goldberg had the last opportunity of the match but was thwarted by a good Haigh save but it would have been nothing more than a consolation for a flat Welling team.
Welling United: Wilks, Ming, Anderson, Prestedge, Swaine, Rich-Baghuelou, Cook (Rooney 74), Agyemang (Cosgrave 59), Goldberg, Coombes, McCallum (Green 59). Subs not used: Okosieme, Oyinsan.
PICTURES BY DAVE BUDDEN