Welling United show clinical side as Chippenham Town swept aside

By Mark Doig

Following their problems in finding the net at Eastbourne, Welling United had no such problems as they won 4-1 at Chippenham Town in National League South.

Four times they finished chances and they claimed a fine victory at a ground where many teams struggle.

On a difficult playing surface, Welling moderated their playing style and manager Steve King made four changes to the starting line-up. He handed full league debuts to Brendan Kiernan, John Paul Kissock and Richard Orlu and also gave Bradley Goldberg his first start of the season.

He wanted the four of them to put in performances that demanded they kept their shirts – none of them disappointed.

Early goal attempts went the way of the hosts and although Dan Wilks was called upon to make saves from Karnell Chambers, Kieran Parselle and Josh Smile, he would have been disappointed had he not made them.

However, Welling’s first attack was more penetrative and they went ahead with 12 minutes on the clock. Goldberg’s header was blocked out as far as Craig Braham-Barrett on the edge of the penalty area. He squared to Kiernan, who fired home.

Andy Sandell headed wide from a corner before the Bluebirds levelled. A long throw was knocked on and Chambers found room to finish.

Welling went back ahead when Danny Mills was brought down just inside the penalty area. Goldberg stepped up and sent Will Henry the wrong way from the spot.

Jordan Gibbons combined well with Kiernan but his shot was unconvincing and it rolled wide.

Five minutes before the break, Welling added a third. Henry made a brilliant save from Mills but it only came out as far as Thierry Audel, who hooked the rebound home for his second goal of the season.

After the break Goldberg created an opportunity for himself by dispossessing Alex Ferguson but his shot was a little too straight and Henry made an easy save.

Jack Jebb and Mills twice combined to create openings. First Jebb sent Mills away but he was unable to finish then Mills pulled back to Jebb and his low shot towards the bottom corner brought a good save out of Henry who turned it round the post.

Wilks made a smart near post save from Sandell before Chambers fired across the face of goal with nobody able to apply the finish.

Having scored the first goal, Kiernan also finished the final one. Mills did superbly in midfield to switch the ball out to Arnaud Mendy, via Gavin McCallum on the right wing before hurtling into the penalty area to meet the cross. He then headed back across the face of goal to find Kiernan, whose stooping header found the net. 

Audel limped off to be replaced by Anthony Acheampong in the closing minutes and King will be monitoring closely ahead of Tuesday’s match with the bookmakers championship favourites Billericay Town.

Welling United: Wilks, Gibbons, Braham-Barrett, Jebb, Audel (Acheampong 84), Orlu, Kiernan, Ijaha, Mills, Goldberg (McCallum 63), Kissock (Mendy 63). Subs not used: L’Ghoul, Pinney.