By Mark Doig at Park View Road
AN early Chris Harris goal helped Welling United return to winning ways in their Isthmian League Premier Division home game against Leatherhead.
Victory maintained Welling’s 100 per cent home league record with six clean sheets in their eight games at the Anthony Martin Community Stadium.
In doing that they also ended the Tanners’ unbeaten league away run stretching back to 2025. In August the Wings were beaten 4-1 at Leatherhead, so they may deem this result to be payback.
Ryan Maxwell’s Wings started quickly and had already had a couple of chances before going ahead. Demaray Anyadike’s shot was deflected over and Lekan Majoyegbe’s header was cleared off the line by Louie Paget. Then Harris struck. Chris Arthurs delivered a deep cross and Harris directed his header between goalkeeper Sonny Wheeler and the post.
Wheeler then made a good save from Kaan Bennett before Koli Anokye-Boadi and Nathan Hogan both fired over for the visitors, the latter from a free-kick.
Again, Harris was in the thick of things when his shot was tipped on to the post by Wheeler and it came out to Nahum Melvin-Lambert who was unable to direct it on target with the goal gaping.
At the other end, Deondre Date shot on the turn and goalkeeper Mackenzie Foley clung on well before Anyadike had another effort for the Wings that he curled wide of the far post.
Just before half-time, Hogan was again off target with a free-kick.
Both managers made changes in the opening 20 minutes of the second period as the visitors pressed without success against a determined Welling defence. It was the Wings who created chances on the counter-attack. Anyadike twice worked his way clear down the right, first shooting wide and then being denied by Wheeler who beat his shot away.
Tyrell Miller-Rodney shot off target and then Harris had a header saved comfortably by Wheeler.
As the game moved into the latter stages, the visitors threw caution to the wind and Marcel Barrington shot straight at Foley before Connor Harris shot narrowly wide.
Deep into stoppage-time, Leatherhead had a golden opportunity when Anas Igozouln found space in the penalty area and Foley made a breathtaking save to keep Welling’s fortress intact. There was still time for Igozouln to take the corner and Wheeler came up to meet it but couldn’t keep his header down.
Welling extended their run while ending the visitors’ streak.
Welling are second, a point off Enfield, and host Carshalton Athletic on Saturday (3pm).
Welling United: Foley; Otseh-Taiwo, O’Keefe, Majoyegbe, Cooper, Arthur; Miller-Rodney; Anyadike, Bennett (Reynolds 51), Smith (Blackman 65); Harris, Melvin-Lambert (Shomotun 65).
Substitutes not used: Anthony, Lucan.
