Manager Warren Feeney has praised Welling United’s fans after helping them to victory at Dulwich Hamlet on Bank Holiday Monday.
Having lost at home to Chelmsford City on Saturday, Welling United bounced back with a deserved win at Dulwich Hamlet forty-eight hours later.
It was a tough local derby with Welling having to dig deep after going in at the break two up. The Wings went ahead in the second minute when Frankie Raymond turned a Taylor Maloney free kick into his own net.
“Taylor’s got quality.” Said Welling manager Warren Feeney after the match. “He puts balls in areas where you’ve got to get back. As a striker and a wide man, you say put balls in the corridor and make people defend. He did. I don’t care who scores. Goals are goals.
“It gave us a great start. I thought we grew in confidence. We looked strong. The second goal was first class from Ade (Azeez) again. He wants to score and he reminds me a bit of myself. He does so much unselfish running but he showed that bit of quality, which to me is like a goal scored, where he’s set it up for his strike partner and it’s a great finish.”
Going in at two up meant that the hosts would have to go for it after the break. “We knew that the first fifteen minutes were going to be difficult.” Admitted Feeney.
“You want to go on but you know that it’s difficult. They made two subs straight away and we had to ride it out but this is where fitness comes into it. Playing two games in three days is a big ask but I said to my players you’ve got to be ruthless and I thought that we were ruthless today.”
Jamie Sendles-White re-joined Welling during the previous week and played the full two games. Feeney gushed “For Jamie, it’s only his second game and he’s played his second game in three days. He’s hardly had any pre-season but you couldn’t tell. He reads the game unbelievably well. You’ve got to give credit to Jamie as well. I thought that he brought the best out of Manny (Parry) as well.”
Aaron Barnes and Chi Ezennolim were given starts at full-back and Feeney was delighted with their contributions. “I’d love Barnsey and Chi to come and have a go at me now because they’ve proved me wrong, It’s a squad game and Rob (Howard) and Tom (Dickens) have been brilliant but I felt that I had to change it around a wee bit. I’m really pleased. There’s a good work ethic around the club.”
Although Feeney accepts that football is a squad game, he still expects his players to want to play every game. “I base my pre-seasons around fifty games plus.” He confirmed.
“It’s what I’m used to. When I was at Cardiff and got to the cup final I think it was sixty games and internationals on top of that. It’s what the boys bought into.
“When we were away (in their pre-season training camp), they ran hard at Bournemouth. I said to them today that’s what gets you the results, when you’re running up hills at Bournemouth and on the beach. But they took it on board, They’re a great bunch and there’s no bad eggs in there and I’m really, really pleased for everyone today to get the three points.”
Anthony Papadopoulos played a lot of games up front in pre-season but was given a role in midfield, which was where he played when at Leyton Orient.
“The kid’s got quality.” Said Feeney.
“He’s been playing right back, right midfield. I’ve played him up front but I’ve played him in that (position) little bit advanced from midfield because I think he’s clever. I thought he was outstanding.”
Feeney also wanted to praise the supporters. “The fans have been brilliant ever since the first day I’ve come here.” He said.
“We want to put out a team that they’re going to enjoy, they’re going to cheer, they’re going to back up and that was for the fans today. You could see the appreciation at the end.
“The fans travelled for a local derby. They were brilliant, vocal and I think that the players appreciated that and that’s why they went over to them at the end. I’m sure that there’s going to be a few that will go home with sore heads tonight and waking up tomorrow with a sore head as well.”
Picture supplied by Dave Budden.