Welling United kick off National League South campaign with goalless draw at Taunton Town

By Mark Doig

New look Welling United visited Taunton Town in what was always likely to be a tight game, and so it proved to be as the two sides played out a goalless draw at The Cygnet Health Care Stadium.

Neither side did enough to deserve to win and clear-cut chances were a rarity as two strong defences looked determined not to be breached. Both teams had goalkeepers signed very late on, but neither had too much to do and will be happy to have marked their debuts with clean sheets.

No fewer than nine Welling players made their full league debuts for the club, with three more making first appearances from the bench so getting the team to gel is a big task for manager Warren Feeney.

Anthony Papadopoulos had Welling’s first shot of the new season but did not get a clean strike on it, and it was saved comfortably by Jack Bycroft. Then Nick McCootie’s strength earned Taunton a free kick on the edge of the penalty area, but Jay Foulston fired over the defensive wall and the crossbar.

Ashley Nzala used his pace to get past his man, and Bycroft rushed out to make a block tackle before Jake Wannell found himself in an advantageous position for the hosts but fired over.

McCootie was then played in down the left-hand side, and he opened his body to make the angle but could only side foot beyond the far post. He then created a further opportunity to force a mistake out of a defender leaving Taunton with two strikers against one defender. Unselfishly, he squared to Dave Sims-Burgess, but Myles Roberts gave him little to aim at and kept out his effort with his left boot.

Roberts did well to get down and save a flick-on from Taunton’s first corner just inside the far post in the second half before he was watchful in saving a shot from Ollie Chamberlain that bounced in front of him.

Chamberlain then created a half chance for McCootie that he headed wide before Welling took command of the last twenty-five minutes.

Medy Elito ran into space behind the defenders but shot wide of the far post, then the influential Tyrique Hyde created an opening for himself but curled just over. Stefan Payne was brought down just outside the penalty area, but Welling tried a cute free-kick routine, and Taunton were out quickly to snuff it out before anyone got a shot away.

Payne again caused problems on the edge of the penalty area and after his initial blocked effort came back out to him, his follow up curled wide.

One last chance came Welling’s way when substitute Palace Francis’ clever work allowed Hyde a sight on goal, but he scuffed his effort, and it went wide.

Feeney now has two home games against promoted sides, Worthing, and Cheshunt, for which to prepare.

PICTURES: DAVE BUDDEN