Although Welling’s run of four consecutive away wins was ended, their draw at Hemel Hempstead Town meant that they remained unbeaten on their travels since the first game of the season.

That sequence has now stretched to nine games and the Welling management will be delighted to extend it.

They made a number of positional changes from their home draw with Concord Rangers one week earlier but soon found themselves on the back foot.

After James Kaloczi missed with a header that he should have scored, Antonio German fired the Tudor’s ahead with an unstoppable shot that went in off the crossbar.

Jeffrey Monakana sent over a cross for Welling that Kyle Connolly was happy to see out at the expense of a corner before Will Hoskins netted for Hemel but was clearly offside and the score was chalked off.

Archie Johnson got in the way of a drive by Thomas Day before Welling came close to levelling. Jack Parkinson got on the end of Jack Jebb’s free kick but his downward header was saved brilliantly by Laurie Walker.

Jordan Parkes had a shot saved by Calum Kitscha before the former Ebbsfleet man put the Tudors two nil up from the penalty spot awarded for a foul by Monakana on Joe Howe.

It could have been worse but Kitscha made a great save from Hoskins just before the break.

Jamie Coyle reacted by making a double change at the break with strikers Bradley Goldberg and Eli Phipps replacing defender Gayle and midfielder Jebb.

Hoskins and Day both had shots saved for the hosts before Welling reduced the arrears. Johnson sent over a cross that demanded a finish and Tom Bradbrook obliged with a powerful header.

Phipps then pulled back for Healy but Walker saved from point blank range.

Walker saved again when Parkinson got on the end of a Johnson cross before the goalkeeper got himself into a mess. His clearance from out wide found Healy just inside the Hemel half, and with the goal unguarded, Healy launched a fifty yard effort into the net.

Shaken Hemel then struggled to keep a rampant Welling at bay  First Jeffrey Monakana came close to celebrating his permanent move to the Wings with a goal but fired just over.

Next Healy’s cross was just out of the reach of Bradbrook. That was followed by a Goldberg strike that was deflected past the post. Then Phipps shot wide from distance.

Still Welling probed and the Tudors were grateful to hack away after surviving an almighty goal mouth scramble.

However, having survived that spell of pressure, Hemel Hempstead finished strongly. A combination of Kitscha and the post kept out one time Wing Howe then Parkes and Scott Shulton were both off target. German then had a shot blocked off the line by Connor Dymond.

There was still time for injury time controversy. Substitute Christian Nanetti burst into the penalty area and appeared to be pushed to the ground. The referee had a different opinion and cautioned the Welling man for simulation.

 

Hemel Hempstead Town: Walker, Howe, Connolly, Parkes, Day (Driver 84), Yakubu, Kaloczi, Shulton, Hoskins (Moyo 88), German, McCall (Campbell 78).

Subs not used: Driver, Osborn, Moyo, Spring, Campbell.

 

Welling United: Kitscha, Dymond, Johnson, Durojaiye, Coyle, Parkinson, Monakana (Nanetti 86), Healy, Bradbrook, Jebb (Goldberg 46), Gayle (Phipps 46).

Subs not used: Richards, Francis.

 

Hemel Hempstead Town:

Goalscorers: German (6), Parkes Pen (39)

Yellow cards: Yakubu

Red cards: None

 

Welling United:

Goalscorers: Bradbrook (54), Healy (59)

Yellow cards: Healy, Bradbrook, Dymond, Nanetti

Red cards: None

 

Referee: Robert Massey-Ellis

Assistants: Joshua Crofts and Hugh Gilroy

 

Attendance: 453

 

Welling star player: Joe Healy

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.