Having won their final two pre-season games without conceding a goal, Welling United visited Vanarama National League South championship favourites Havant and Waterlooville in good spirits.

Roarie Deacon put Havant ahead in the twelfth minute but Adam Coombes’ equaliser five minutes before the break earned Welling a well earned point.

Wings manager Mark Goldberg felt that it was a good, disciplined performance and that Welling were well worthy of a point.

Deacon’s goal was the first clear-cut chance of the match and he finished well after being set up by Jonah Anuga.

Bradley Goldburg had Welling’s first chance but volleyed over from a tight angle before Coombes fired a free kick straight at Ross Worner.

Each side then had strikes ruled out for offside. First Coombes netted from close range before Wes Fogden thought he had scored when following up after Dan Wilks had saved from Ayunga.

However, Commbes and Goldberg have a good understanding and it paid off in the 40th minute when the latter was the creator with a perfect low cross for the former to slot home.

Immediatly after the break, Ayunga hit the woodwork and Dan Wilks was twice called into action, first making a brilliant save from Ayunga and then blocking from Fogden.

Although Havant, had a good spell they struggled to break down Welling’s defence and only created half chances although Josh Taylor might have done better than stabbing wide after breaking free.

As the game wore on the Hawks seemed to run out of ideas and Welling might have won it in the
closing stages but both Joe Anderson and Jack Jebb had shots deflected wide and both teams had to settle for a point.

Havant and Waterlooville: Worner, Reid, Straker, Beckwith, Magri, Fogden, Drury Tarbuck 78),
Ayunga, Deacon (Paul 83), Bailey, Taylor (Rutherford 78).

Unused substitutes: Walton, Cook.

Goal scorer: Deacon (12)

Welling United: Wilks, Ming, Anderson, Dymond, Swaine, Rich-Baghuelou, Cosgrave, Rooney
(Agyemang 84), Goldberg (Jebb 64), Coombes (Anau 73), Green.

Unused substitutes: Copeland, Okosieme.

Goal scorer: Coombes (40)

Attendance: 1,378

Referee: Sunny Gill

Assistants: Marc Meetan and Sean Jenkins

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.