Andrews seals three points for Wings

10:31am Monday 6th October 2008

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Bishop's Stortford 0-1 Welling United

WOODSIDE Park is becoming a popular place for Welling United players to record their first goals for the club.

In 2006-7, Mark Goodfellow and Ben Lewis broke their ducks, last season Sonny Cobbs scored his first for the club and on Saturday it was the turn of Graeme Andrews.

The weather at Bishop's Stortford had much to do with the fact this was a dour affair, but Welling displayed a better attitude and work rate than their hosts who showed little idea of how to come back after going behind.

This was borne out by the number of their supporters who had left before the final whistle.

Referee David Rock blew kicked the game off at 2.55pm and Welling produced what was possibly the best move of the match before three o'clock when a superb cross field pass by Ellis Green picked out Craig Braham- Barrett.

The left winger held it up well and fed the overlap of Cobbs, but his shot was claimed at the near post by goalkeeper Nicky Eyre.

Charlie Sheringham set up a 14th minute half chance for Sol Pinnock, making his first start for the Wings, but he was unable to hit the target.

Green was shown the yellow card for an innocuous looking tackle, but the resultant free-kick failed to trouble Welling's defence.

Bishop's Stortford's best opening came in the 29th minute when a swirling cross caused panic in the Wings back four and allowed Piers Wixon to produce a chance for Danny Harris.

His attempt was chested down on the line by the excellent Tony Sinclair, who then started up a counter attack which ended with Cobbs slicing his cross over the bar.

The visitors were denied a clear penalty in the 39th minute when Sinclair was bundled over when trying to reach a corner but the referee, although well placed, showed no interest.

Home skipper Paul Goodacre was injured a minute later after making a tackle on Braham-Barrett and was stretchered off.

Welling had the first two efforts of the second half, both from the impressive Ryan Johnson.

The first flew over the bar and the second was blocked when looking goal bound.

Rob Quinn was the second player to find his name in the book, equally mysteriously, as his challenge did not appear worthy of more than a free-kick.

Finally, the stalemate was broken in the 70th minute.

Andrews floated the ball forward from 45 yards and aided by the wind and a goalkeeper too far off his line, watched as it struck the underside of the crossbar, bounced down onto the goal-line and then up into the roof of the net.

Jamie Turner was then required to make his only two saves, both routine, from Harris and substitute Roy Essandoh.

Essandoh had previously joined Green and Quinn in the referee's book for raising his hands to Matthew McEntegart.

As the Wings ran the clock down, Welling substitute Chris Nurse was adjudged to have been backing in when holding up possession by the corner flag.

Referee Rock's eccentricity was compounded by the fact he showed no interest in Steve King throwing Nurse to the ground as he hurried to take the free-kick.

It was to no avail, however, as moments later the official blew his final whistle to the cheers of the travelling support.

Welling: Turner, Andrews, Cobbs, Quinn, McEntegart, Sinclair, Green, Johnson, Pinnock (Stevens 75), Sheringham (Nurse 87), Braham-Barrett. Subs not used: Chappell, Blackburn, Martin. Att: 372.