11:45am Monday 22nd September 2008
By Mark Doig
Welling United 1-3 Worcester City
WELLING United produced a toothless display against troubled Worcester City and a first home defeat of the season was no more than they deserved.
Charlie Sheringham's knee injury had not recovered and Ellis Green was suspended following an incredible five yellow cards in just eight matches, mainly for acts of petulance.
New signing from Stevenage Borough, Chris Nurse, was thrust straight into the first team despite only having joined the club on the previous day, while Ryan Martin was dropped to the bench.
The first 15 minutes were scrappy at best.
In fact, the only real danger to either goal was when Jamie Turner had to play like an outfield player to control and clear a fierce back pass from Ryan Johnson.
Welling were awarded a free-kick on 18 minutes when a crude challenge by Jon Richardson on Craig Braham-Barrett rightly found the referee reaching for his yellow card.
Sonny Cobbs attempted to complete the punishment by curling his effort around the wall, but he was unable to get sufficient bend and the shot went into the side netting.
As the hosts began to put Worcester under a bit of pressure, Orlando Smith turned superbly and curled a shot towards the top corner.
Goalkeeper Daniel McDonnell had to be at his best to dive and claw the ball away.
Matthew McEntegart then headed over from a corner before an attempted placed-shot by Joe Healey was blocked following more good work by Braham-Barrett.
It was against the run of play when the visitors scored from a needlessly conceded corner.
After further poor defending, the ball eventually fell to Marco Adaggio who scrambled it into the net.
Within a minute, Welling were level.
Lee Blackburn was fouled and as the Welling players all looked at each other to see who would take the penalty, captain Rob Quinn stepped up to send McDonnell the wrong way.
Worcester almost regained their advantage when Turner somehow kept out a Matthew Dinsmore shot which had completely wrong-footed him.
Although Blackburn and Healey both had shots off target for Welling, it was Worcester who again went ahead 10 minutes into the second half when scrappy defending presented Craig Wilding with an opportunity which he finished clinically.
This time there was no immediate response and Worcester took complete control of the game.
Welling manager Andy Ford made three substitutions, but all to no avail as the midfield failed to create anything of note.
The outcome was put beyond doubt in the 83rd minute when Graeme Andrews missed a header and Wilding went past McEntegart easily to fire past Turner again.
Substitute Ryan Martin finally forced a save out of McDonnell from a free-kick four minutes from timem, but by then it was too little too late.
Welling: Turner, Johnson, Cobbs, Quinn (D Smith 64), McEntegart, G Andrews, Blackburn (Pinnock 72), Nurse, Healey (Martin 56), O Smith, Braham-Barrett. Subs not used: Chappell, S Andrews. Att: 534.
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