Welling United have chances to win but draw 2-2 against Slough Town in National League South
BY MARK DOIG
Although claiming a point, Welling United were disappointed to not claim all three at home to Slough Town in National League South on Saturday.
Not only did Wings manager Rod Stringer make changes to his starting line-up following their poor performance at Tonbridge four days earlier, he also gave a first look to new assistant-manager and first-team coach Colin Reid. A formal announcement of the appointment will be made by the club during the week.
On the pitch, Stringer made three changes to the team that lost at Tonbridge Angels in midweek. He welcomed back Gene Kennedy and Dan Martin from injury and they replaced Sam Cornish and Harvey Walker. At the back, Maxwell Statham was selected with Jack Burchell dropping to the bench.
Having tried out a 4-4-2 at Tonbridge, he reverted to three at the back for the Slough game, and they were far more creative, especially in the first half.
Rhys Lovett was the first goalkeeper to be called into action when blocking a shot by David Ogbonna. Eventually, it fell to Johnny Goddard, whose strong shot drew a fine save out of the Welling custodian.
Once the dust had settled, Welling took control of the first half and Deon Moore headed over after Dan Quick’s header bounced up for him.
Three minutes shy of the half-hour mark, the Wings went ahead. Moore dispossessed a dithering defender and burst down the left. Goalkeeper Charlie Horlock came out to meet him and he squared it beyond him for Scott Kashket to tap home from three yards out.
One minute later, the two Welling strikers again combined to good effect. Moore’s tenacity allowed him to play it in to Kashket, and from a tight angle, he clipped it over Horlock and into the inside of the net.
Kashket might have completed his hat-trick, still before half an hour had passed, but the angle was against him and Horlock held on well to his near-post drive.
Just before half-time, Welling had a great opportunity to go 3-0 when Riccardo Di Trolio got on the end of a Martin corner but headed wide from close range.
After the break, Quick cut across and found Jayden Davis and his low cross was prodded just wide of the near post by Kennedy.
However, 10 minutes into the second half, the Rebels pulled one back when Josh Jackman met Goddard’s free-kick with a header that gave Lovett no chance.
Smelling blood, Slough started playing a very direct game, either launching long, high passes at their two big strikers, or trying to put deep diagonal crosses behind the Welling backline. The defence did well to limit Slough to hopeful shots that did not trouble Lovett until their rearguard action was finally broken with six minutes remaining. Player-manager Scott Davis sent over one of his trademark long diagonal passes forward, Goddard controlled it superbly, and that allowed him to slot it home.
Even then, Welling might still have won it when Moore got on the end of a corner but headed it straight at Horlock who made the point blank range save.
Stringer’s side are back in league action on Saturday when they have the long trip to Cornwall to face promotion hopefuls Truro City.
PICTURES: DAVE BUDDEN