By Mark Doig at Park View Road
WELLING United boosted their Isthmian League Premier Division survival chances as they extended their unbeaten run to four games with their 3-1 win against Chichester City at Park View Road on Saturday.
Having dropped back into the bottom four as a result of matches played on Good Friday, Welling needed a win to get them back out of the relegation zone. Three second-half goals ensured that they claimed the three points and they are now third in the form guide in the last six matches.
It also meant that Welling completed the double over the side from Sussex.
Goal chances were at a premium in the first half with Ade Azeez having Welling’s best opportunities. In just the second minute he got on the end of a Troy Howard low cross but could only divert it into the arms of goalkeeper Kieran Magee. Then he was unable to keep his header down from Jamie Reynolds’ cross.
Emmett Dunn headed wide for the visitors before Lloyd Rowett hooked over.
However, it was the Lilywhites’ goalkeeper who made the only save of the first half when he blocked a shot by Reynolds.
Two minutes after the restart, Welling went ahead. Lewis Gard delivered a corner and Dean Gunner rose highest to power his header into the back of the net.
The Wings doubled their lead five minutes later. Howard’s skill and pace was too much for Robert Hutchings and he squared for Azeez to tuck it away and end his four-game goal drought.
Substitutions and yellow cards then disrupted the game before Chichester pulled a goal back just after the hour-mark. A scramble in the Welling penalty area fell kindly for Dunn and although Mackenzie Foley made a brilliant save to keep his shot out, James Wild reacted quickest to force it over the line.
Azeez restored Welling’s two-goal advantage twelve minutes later as they again exploited the visitors weakness from dead-ball situations. This time it was Sam Smith who delivered and he found Azeez who directed his header inside the far post.
Foley made a good near-post save from Hutchings before some of the gloss was taken off the Wings’ victory when they were reduced to ten men. Substitute Olu Oluwatimilehin had already been cautioned for a foul when he committed another one deep into stoppage-time resulting in a second yellow card.
Three minutes later, the referee ended the match and the players were able to celebrate another crucial win with their happy supporters.
Welling travel to fifth-placed Brentwood Town on Easter Monday (3pm).
Welling United: Foley; O’Keefe, Majoyegbe, Gunner, Arthur; Smith; Howard (Stewart 54), Reynolds (Oluwatimilehin 79), Gard (Thomas 64), Ufuah (Paternoster 90+2); Azeez.
Substitute not used: Reeve.
