By Mark Doig at Park View Road
FOLLOWING three consecutive knock-out tournament matches, Welling United returned to Isthmian League Premier Division action with a home victory over AFC Whyteleafe which took them top of the table.
Twelve months ago the Wings occupied the bottom spot in the league table so to hit the peak with this win shows the enormous strides that the Wings have made since Ryan Maxwell took over as first team manager. At home in the league, they have been almost perfect. In six wins out of six, they have conceded just one goal. Their six clean sheets this season have already eclipsed last season’s total.
Visitors, Whyteleafe were promoted to the division at the end of last season and are in the bottom four at present, however, they have shown themselves to be hard to beat and that was evident when they were still in this match right to the end.
That was partly due to goalkeeper Slavomir Huk who may have thought that he had a point to prove having been released by the Wings at the start of last season.
Nahum Melvin-Lambert came close early on when he couldn’t quite turn Kaan Bennett’s misplaced shot wide. He wasn’t to be denied for long, though. After Huk had made his first good save of the afternoon, at the cost of a corner, Jamie Reynolds delivered, Whyteleafe couldn’t clear, and Melvin-Lambert stretched his leg out to force it home.
It could have been two when Demaray Anyadike and Melvin-Lambert combined well to give Tyrell Miller-Rodney a sight of goal. Although he struck it well, his radar was out and it flew well off target. Anyadike then sent over a delicious centre that Melvin-Lambert headed powerfully towards the far post only to be denied by a stunning save by Huk.
Palace Francis fired well over for the visitors before a Nathan Cooper header was off target from another Reynolds corner.
Shortly after the break a Francis shot was pushed round the post by Welling custodian Philip Ogayi then Corey Holder headed over from Helge Orome’s corner.
After that, Welling probed but chances were few and far between as Whyteleafe defended well without creating anything attack-wise.
As the game moved into the latter stages, Huk had to get down sharply when Sam Smith’s pressing almost paid dividends. Welling again came close in time added on. Smith struck a free kick, Huk pushed it out, and Ade Azeez looked certain to score. However, his shot struck Huk’s trailing leg and ricocheted over the bar.
Moments later, the referee blew his whistle for the final time and Welling moved to the summit of the league table.
Welling are away to Maldon & Tiptree on Tuesday evening.
Welling United: Ogayi; O’Keefe, Majoyegbe, Cooper, Arthur (Otseh-Taiwo 80); Miller-Rodney, Reynolds (Blackman 59); Anyadike (Howard 82), Bennett (Smith 83), Shomotun; Melvin-Lambert (Azeez 74).
Substitutes not used: None.
