Wings disappoint in 2-1 loss to Bath City

BY MARK DOIG

Lacklustre Welling United stumbled to a disappointing 2-1 defeat to a Bath City team who came into the contest off the back of four consecutive defeats.

The Wings started slowly and were fortunate not to be behind early on. They only really started playing after they went behind in the second half. They did have spells where they had possession but their passing was laboured and lacking in tempo, making it easy for Bath when not on the ball.

Omar Holness should have put the hosts ahead after five minutes but sided-footed wide when unmarked around the penalty spot. Welling were again lucky to escape just before the 15-minute mark when Alex Fletcher’s effort came back off the underside of the crossbar and Cody Cooke’s follow up was cleared off the line.

Cooke then hit a shot from the angle of the penalty area but Jack Sims got down well to claim before Maxwell Statham made a great covering tackle to thwart Cooke, who had burst through just before the break.

Callum Wood missed a glorious chance early in the second half when heading wide at the far post from close range before Welling started to create opportunities for the first time. Che Krabbendam was at the heart of most of them and had a shot saved. He then led a break when Welling had numbers forward but was stopped by a cynical challenge by Callum Wood before he could put a team-mate through.

Wood was cautioned but would have cared little as shortly after his team went ahead. A corner appeared to have been over-hit but Elliot Frear retrieved it and fired back inside the far post.

Peter Taylor made a double change to his team and there was a noticeable improvement to their tempo. Kristian Campbell delivered an enticing free-kick and Daniel Carr got ahead of his man but used his hand to force it home.

Campbell caused further problems with a shot that was tipped over by Ryan Clarke and Bradley Stevenson’s quick corner gave him another chance and Clarke did superbly to turn his fierce drive over.

Pushing forward left Welling prone to the counter and they were caught by one for Bath to score again with five minutes remaining. Tom Smith burst down the right and crossed deep to Fletcher and he sent a brilliant curler into the top corner that gave Sims no chance.

Welling did not give up and pulled one back when Arthur Penney’s glancing header from Krebbendam’s free-kick but it was too little too late as the final whistle sounded before they could get another touch of the ball.

PICTURES: DAVE BUDDEN