Wings suffer 1-0 home defeat to Hemel Hempstead Town

BY MARK DOIG

Home woes again struck Welling United as Hemel Hempstead Town took all three points when they visited Park View Road.

Tudors manager Brad Quinton and his management team know the ground well having previously occupied the home dugout for 12 months and they took full advantage of Welling’s insecurities on their own patch. It was Welling’s third home game in eight days during which they earned just one point.

Their last home victory was on New Year’s Day and they have only won four out of 17 National League South matches on their own patch, losing eight.

Amadou Kassarate was absent through suspension and Taylor Maloney was still out injured so Warren Feeney handed Christie Pattisson a full debut, his first start for Welling since his previous spell at the club.

Playing a less direct style than in recent matches, Welling tried to play out from the back in an attempt to draw out the attacking midfield players supporting Hemel’s lone striker. It worked to an extent as they enjoyed a lot of possession until they reached the final third of the pitch.

As a result, chances were few and far between in the first half. Hemel’s Nana Owusu had an effort pushed away by Welling goalkeeper Myles Roberts before he fired over after Kory Roberts had headed George Williams’ free-kick back across the goal.

Pattisson had a shot beaten out by Craig King into the path of George Alexander. Although he netted the rebound, he was offside and it was disallowed. Alexander then went on a long run down the right but the angle was against him and his effort was beaten out.

After the interval, King dropped a Pattisson cross and was grateful to see a defender hack it away before a Welling striker could pounce. Luke Holness went close from the Tudors from 20 yards before Welling’s best attacking move almost ended in a goal. Chi Ezennolim sent Medy Elito free down the left. He pulled it back to Alexander, who teed up Stefan Payne on the edge of the area only for his curler to fly inches over.

From that point on, Hemel raised the tempo with former Wales winger Williams behind most of their attacks. He had a shot deflected wide then another saved easily. His next attempt was half deflected into the path of Holness, whose effort was blocked by Kodi Lyon-Foster.

Holness had a shot tipped over by Roberts before the Welling custodian did well to hold on to another Williams effort.

When Welling’s defence was finally breached, with 10 minutes remaining, it was a combination of a loss in concentration and ill fortune. Owusu and Josh Williams combined to catch them out with a quick short-corner routine that was crossed as far as Hemel’s Roberts. He attempted to head back across goal but it struck Welling centre-back Jamie Sendles-White in the head and rebounded into the net.

Ade Azeez had an injury time effort for Welling that King turned round the post before the referee brought proceedings to a close.

The Wings now have two games on the road, at Hungerford Town and Farnborough, in the hope that they can find some success away from home comforts.

PICTURES: DAVE BUDDEN