Part two of the Easter programme takes Welling United to Essex with an Isthmian League Premier Division match at Brentwood Town.
Having dropped back into the relegation zone following the results on Good Friday, Ryan Maxwell’s team reacted perfectly one day later with a deserved victory over Chichester City. Following a goal-less first half playing down the slope they took the lead two minutes after the restart when Dean Gunner powered home a header from a Lewis Gard corner.
Five minutes later, Ade Azeez made it two when finishing after a brilliant run and cross by Troy Howard created the opportunity. Although Chichester pulled one back just after the hour mark, Azeez restored the Wings’ two goal advantage when meeting Sam Smith’s delivery with a header directed perfectly inside the far post.
Meanwhile, Brentwood were falling to a three-two defeat at Burgess Hill Town. They went behind in the eighteenth minute but levelled four minutes later through Louie Johnson. Goals for the hosts in first half stoppage time and three minutes after the break put Burgess Hill in command until Ethan Kaiser pulled one back. Even though the Blues had over half an hour to find an equaliser, they were unable to do so.
That left them clinging on to the final play-off spot, three points ahead of Dartford but with an inferior goal difference, with each having four games left to play.
This will be the third meeting between Welling and Brentwood this season. At the Brentwood Centre Arena in the FA Trophy, the hosts completed a routine three-nil win courtesy of a goal by Daniel Ogunleye and a brace from Benas Vaivada. Then in their league meeting at Welling in December, Brentwood won four-one. Kymani Thomas put the visitors ahead from the spot before Charlee Hughes added two more. Bradley Sach (coincidentally now at Brentwood) pulled one back on the hour mark before Jesse Olukolu added a fourth with eight minutes remaining.
Those results won’t stop Welling from travelling full of confidence. They are currently in third place in the form guide and unbeaten in four while Brentwood have gone three games without a win.
Maxwell will monitor the fitness of his team ahead of selection. He said “The reality is, no-one’s going to recover fully, that’s just the bottom line, scientifically, so we’ll do everything that we can. They’ll be given things to do and diets, but ultimately, they’ll have to do whatever they can. We’ve got a good strong squad and we’ll need it come Monday. There will be tired legs and that’s for both teams”
Images courtesy of Chris Zimmerman