By Mark Doig at Princes Park
GOALS either side of half-time, and a third on the hour, helped Welling United claim a comfortable local derby victory at Dartford in the Isthmian League Premier Division.
In their previous match, Welling faced a Stanway Rovers team who played a narrow system, attempting to flood the midfield, and the Wings won 4-0. Against Dartford they faced a back three and a midfield bolstered by wing-backs, and again Welling won comfortably without conceding.
Before the game, Welling hadn’t won a league game at Dartford since 2013 but it was twelfth time lucky this time around.
After a cagey opening fifteen minutes, Welling’s Ryan Kingsford had a shot saved by Ryan Sandford, Dartford’s goalkeeper. Then, at the other end, Dan Smith tested Mackenzie Foley with a fierce drive that he did well to palm over.
Zak O’Keefe, on his second Welling debut, had a goal disallowed before there was a big talking point.
Dartford’s Joe Tennent took it out wide and Nahum Melvin-Lambert made a challenge that left the centre-back on the ground. As referee Ryan Calver had his back to the incident, he had to rely on what he was told by his assistants and he cautioned the Welling striker. Sadly for Tennent, he was unable to continue and reports afterwards suggested that he might be out for some time.
Almost immediately, Chris Arthur required treatment for a foul and while he was waiting to be allowed back on, Welling went ahead. Sam Smith delivered a deep diagonal free-kick and Nathan Bertram-Cooper got on the end of it. Although his header came back out off the woodwork, the Welling centre-back was quick to react and fired home from close range.
It might have been 2-0 before half-time but Fumnaya Shomotun’s shot fizzed over.
Five minutes after the restart, Welling scored their second. Demaray Anyadike, a threat throughout, was allowed space to cross and he fired low to the far post where Melvin-Lambert arrived to finish for his third goal of the season.
On the hour-mark, Welling added a third. Shomotun broke forward and had options to his left and to his right. He used them as decoys and went straight through the middle before firing into the bottom corner.
Foley made an easy save from Max Fiddes before Welling had a chance to add a fourth. Sandford and captain Ben Smith got into a terrible kerfuffle allowing Anyadike to get in between them and loft it first time. However, the Dartford centre-back and goalkeeper were relieved to look back and see it sail wide.
As the clock ran down, Welling had one last chance when substitute Kaan Bennett burst forward and shot towards the near post. Sandford was equal to it, though, and he beat it out to safety.
Once the final whistle blew the Welling players thanked their noisy supporters and they go into the busy August Bank Holiday weekend brimming with confidence. Ryan Maxwell’s side host Ramsgate on Saturday before a trip to Cray Wanderers on Monday. Both games kick off at 3pm.
Welling United: Foley; O’Keefe (Blackman 71), Bertram-Cooper, Majoyegbe, Arthur (Reynolds 78); Miller-Rodney, Smith; Anyadike, Kingsford (Bennett 80), Shomotun (Ufuah 74); Melvin-Lambert (Azeez 54).
Substitutes not used: None.
