Welling United so close to back-to-back National League South victories
BY MARK DOIG
Playing their second home game in five days, Welling United were two minutes shy of completing back to back victories but had to settle for a 2-2 draw against Slough last weekend.
It appeared that they had repelled the visitors’ late challenge for a point but their defence, who had thrown themselves in the way of Slough’s efforts, turned off for just a moment and they were made to pay.
Although they had started brightly, and Bradley Stevenson had come close with a long-range shot, the Wings went behind in the sixth minute when Aaron Kuhl drilled home after a low cross was only half cleared.
Ben Allen had a shot saved for Welling before Tom Derry might have done better at the other end from a Guy Hollis long throw.
There wasn’t too much further action in either goalmouth until Derry again headed wide, this time from an Eitel Goueth corner.
Ade Shokunbi sent Stevenson away but he slipped his shot beyond Jonathan North and also the far post before the former Gillingham man levelled in first half injury time. Once more, he was invited to let fly and he left North floundering as his shot flew home.
After the interval, Bradley Pearce headed just wide from Che Krabbendam’s free-kick then Shokunbi was sent clear by Krabbendam but got it caught under his feet and Slough got back to crowd him out.
However, nine minutes after the break, Welling went ahead. Krabbendam sent Allen through and North hurtled out recklessly allowing the young Welling striker to round him and fire home beyond defenders retreating to cover.
Goueth fired over for Slough and then had a shot blocked by Welling goalkeeper Murphy Mahoney.
Dipo Akinyemi had a shot saved for Welling as Slough appeared to have run out of ideas. That was to prove to not be the case when they won a wide free kick with two minutes remaining, Freddie Grant delivered and Ryan Bird rose unchallenged to head home.
Grant might have won it for the Rebels in the fifth minute of injury time when he headed straight at Mahoney but that would have been tough on Welling.
They now have two weeks to wait before their next league game when they entertain table-toppers, Dartford.
PICTURES: DAVE BUDDEN
Main PIc: Bradley Stevenson, centre, levels for the Wings
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