Welling United pick up well-deserved point at Hornchurch
BY MARK DOIG
Rod Stringer’s Welling United completed their August Bank Holiday weekend with a well-deserved point at Hornchurch.
Having beaten Farnborough on Saturday, ending the National League South’s last one hundred per cent start, they crossed the Thames and extended Stringer’s league record with the Wings to just three defeats in twenty-two matches. Hornchurch Stadium is an unforgiving ground on which to play football, and Welling had to show a different side of their game on a rock-hard, bumpy surface against uncompromising opposition.
Stringer and assistant manager Kevin Watson expect total commitment and effort as a bare minimum, and they got that from every one of their players. They are strong at the back, two goals conceded in four games is testament to that, and the midfield battled for every ball. The only thing missing in this game was a little bit of quality in the final third, but that should come as the new squad continues to gel.
After a cagey first 20 minutes, the hosts had an opportunity when Femi Akinwande found space in the penalty area. His initial shot was blocked by the foot of Dave Winfield, and his follow-up was beaten out by goalkeeper Rhys Lovett. It came back to the Urchins’ striker again, but Ben Wells closed him down quickly and got it away.
Elliot Long shot over first time for Welling before Winfield headed across the face of goal where Jack Burchell was waiting to nod home, but Nathan Bertram-Cooper got there first to make a crucial header away. Welling did then find the net when Martell Taylor-Crossdale slotted home. However, he was deemed to be offside by what must have been a very tight call.
Anthony Grant presented Long with another chance to shoot and his low arrowed effort looked to be destined for the bottom corner until Mason Terry dived full length to push it around the post.
As half-time approached, Charlee Adams had a couple of long-range efforts for Hornchurch, but both fizzed wide, with Lovett appearing to have them covered.
Former Crystal Palace striker Sean Scannell flashed a shot over for the hosts early in the second half. However, the respective defences again came out on top, and there wasn’t further goalmouth excitement until the hour mark when Gene Kennedy’s cross-shot was just out of Daniel Martin’s reach. Taylor-Crossdale then shot over after Chiori Johnson’s cross caused problems for Hornchurch.
Akinwande looked to take advantage of a rare Welling defensive lapse, but Wells was alert and got across to make a vital intervention.
Substitute Reece Grant had a great chance to snatch the winner in the closing stages when Johnson picked him out with a great cross, only for Grant’s header to fly well wide.
In the final minute of stoppage time, Lovett ensured his clean sheet would be denied when diving to catch Liam Nash’s 20-yard shot on the turn.
It’s never easy playing newly promoted teams at the start of the season, and Stringer and Watson will again have to research the unknown when Welling entertain Chesham on Saturday.
PICTURES: DAVE BUDDEN