Non-League FootballSport

Welling United up to second in table after victory over Slough Town

BY MARK DOIG

Welling United are up to second in National League South after a 2-1 win over Slough Town on Saturday.

It was a hard-fought battle as a resilient Slough team fought all the way and had goalscoring opportunities of their own. Had Welling failed to win they would have had only themselves to blame as they missed a number of great opportunities in the first half.

Adam Coombes scores the opening goal
Adam Coombes played what was potentially his only game in this loan spell from Billericay Town and made an almost immediate impact. A second minute free-kick was whipped in by Jack Jebb and Coombes wanted it more than anyone else and crashed his header home from close range.
Defender Guy Hollis fouls Jordan Gibbons inside the area
It could have been 2-0 soon after when Jordan Gibbons broke through. Jack Turner advanced and Gibbons tried to slide it past him rather than square it to Brendan Kiernan and Turner made the save.
Loanee Adam Coombes salutes the crowd
Welling almost paid for it when a long ball forward got beyond the defence leaving Manny Williams with a clear sight of goal. The experienced striker put his shot well wide when he should have worked Dan Wilks in the Welling goal.
Keeper, Jack Turner, is beaten for the opening goal
Bradley Goldberg curled his shot just over as he tried to find the top corner.

Disaster struck for Welling when the influential Jebb fell awkwardly clutching his knee. He was stretchered off and David Ijaha replaced him.

Coombes was in the thick of it and started the next attack. He pick-pocketed a dithering defender and poked it to Goldberg. He laid it off to Nassim L’Ghoul but he struck his shot into the side netting.

Nassim L’Ghoul knows he missed a chance
Welling finished the first half on the front foot. L’Ghoul went on a thrilling run and slotted his shot beyond Turner but also the far post, before Kiernan quick-stepped his way through the Slough defence but dragged his shot wide.
Adam Coombes scores from the spot
The visitors levelled inside the first 60 seconds of the second period. A long throw caused problems and it came out to Guy Hollis. He picked out James Dobson, unmarked on the edge of the area on the far side, and the lively wideman fired in a fierce volley that gave Wilks no chance.

Slough’s Warren Harris was gifted a chance when Thierry Audel collapsed with cramp but he headed over. While the Welling defender was off the field getting attention, his side went ahead.

Adam Coombes scores his second goal
Gibbons burst into the box and was bundled over by Hollis for a penalty. Coombes stepped up and sent Turner the wrong way from the spot.

Slough had a chance to nick a point in injury time. Dobson’s cross was met by the head of Sam Togwell but the former Crystal Palace midfielder glanced his header wide.

Welling travel to third-placed Woking on Saturday with an FA Cup first round place at stake.

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