Wings beat Slough 4-3 to end lengthy National League South winless run

BY MARK DOIG

Taylor Curran’s stoppage time winner against Slough Town ended Welling United’s run of 10 National League South games without a win.

Although the spell, stretching back to August Bank Holiday Monday, had produced no victories, only three of them were defeats as Danny Bloor’s team had become draw specialists.

Until Curran’s late intervention, it appeared that Welling were going to finish with one point for the fifth game in a row so it was a relief, as well as delight, for the Welling supporters.

Ten minutes had passed when Welling went ahead. Jephte Tanga burst into the area and was brought down by Josh Jackman and a penalty was awarded. Tristan Abrahams had to wait for Rohan Luthra to be cautioned for roughing up the penalty spot. He remained calm and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way.

Tanga thought that he had made it two soon after when Luthra spilled Kain Adom’s shot and Tanga tucked it home only for his joy to be cut short by an offside flag. Midway through the first half Welling did add a second, aided by some poor Slough defending. Temi Eweka was slow in passing out from the back and Adom dispossessed him before slotting into the bottom corner.

Just as had happened at Dover Athletic on the previous Tuesday, the young Welling team didn’t appear to know how to defend a two-goal lead and the visitors enjoyed a good spell of possession and pulled one back seven minutes before half time. John Goddard recycled a corner with a cross that found Tyrese Dyce. He controlled it well before firing an unstoppable shot beyond Javarn Pitterson.

Another Welling slow start to the second half resulted in a Slough equaliser at a similar time to Dover’s first goal five days earlier. Goddard delivered a corner that was flicked into the path of Eweka, and he atoned for his earlier error with a close-range finish.

That seemed to waken the hosts and both Cameron Green and Tanga had shots blocked before another Green shot took a deflection on its way into the bottom corner. However, once again they were unable to hold on to the lead and Slough made it three apiece with less than an hour on the clock. The Rebels were awarded a free-kick 25 yards out and Goddard fired over the wall and high into the net.

After that, the game became a bit more stretched with both teams having opportunities. Welling came close when an Abrahams shot rattled the bar then Slough had a chance a minute before the end of regulation time when Mickel Platt got in ahead of teenage goalkeeper Javarn Pitterson and flicked it goalwards. Lachlan Byrd was alert and got back to clear off the line.

Byrd was then involved when Welling claimed the winner, one minute into stoppage time. Green delivered a free-kick to the far post, Byrd arrived late and clipped it back, picking out Curran who headed home powerfully to spark off wild celebrations behind the goal.

Despite Welling winning they remain in the bottom three, but only on goal difference ahead of their visit to Braintree Town on Tuesday.

PICTURES: DAVE BUDDEN