By Mark Doig at Fetcham Grove
WELLING United’s hopes of following up Saturday’s victory over Whitehawk with back-to-back wins in the Isthmian League Premier Division to start the season were quashed at newly-promoted Leatherhead.
As is so often the case, teams who enjoyed success in their previous campaign have confidence and momentum early in the new season, and that was certainly the case with the Tanners. However, that is no excuse for Ryan Maxwell’s team as they enjoyed play-off form at the end of the last term so were also buoyant.
There was little to suggest what lay ahead in the first fifteen minutes. Wings goalkeeper Mackenzie Foley was called upon to make a save from Mark Waters, however, Welling then enjoyed the better of the exchanges without creating a real opportunity.
Therefore it was unexpected when after fifteen minutes had passed, the visitors went ahead. A defensive error allowed Anas Igozouln time to work it on to his right foot and fire high into the top corner.
He added a second four minutes later when he was again given space to fire home after Cameron Black had nodded on a long throw by Marcel Barrington.
Still Welling probed but could only make half-chances and Leatherhead scored again five minutes before half-time when what appeared to be a miss-directed cross by James Dickson dipped over Foley and into the net.
Then a minute before half-time, the hosts added a fourth when Waters won possession and was allowed to ease forward unchallenged and fired into the bottom corner from 20 yards.
Although Welling had won six corners to the Tanners’ none, they found themselves 4-0 down at the break.
By midway through the second half, Wings boss Ryan Maxwell had made all five of his substitutions. He brought on three at the start of the second half, and Welling finally created chances. Nahum Melvin-Lambert’s shot came out off the base of the far upright and both Ryan Blackman and Chris Arthur just missed the same post.
Finally, Leatherhead goalkeeper Sonny Wheeler was called into action when making a brilliant double save from Jamie Reynolds and Kaan Bennett.
He was powerless to stop Welling’s consolation goal two minutes from time, though. John Ufuah’s drive took a slight deflection to go in off the far post.
On Saturday, Welling face Stanway Rovers who are also newly-promoted, and Maxwell will be working hard to ensure that there is no repeat of this result.
Welling United: Foley; Otseh-Taiwo, Gunner, Bertram-Cooper, Arthur; Miller-Rodney (Blackman (46); Anyadike (Reynolds 63), Smith (Shomotun 68), Ufuah; Kingsford (Bennett 46); Azeez (Melvin-Lambert 46).
Subs not used: None.
