Four second half goals against Canvey Island helped Welling United move up to nineteenth place in the Isthmian League Premier Division. After the match, Lee Martin gave his reaction to Mark Doig.

“We’ve said for many weeks now that we were going to score a few goals when it clicks and today that was it.” he said. “Today there was pressure on the boys because we had to win that game of football.

“It was an old fashioned six pointer, scrapping it out at the bottom, and I thought they were superb. First half, not at the races. First time I’ve had to really go in there and go at them and they came out, second half, and I thought they were superb.”

Martin wants his players to go out with fear and said “I’ve always gone back to it. I’ve said to the boys ‘I’ll wear everything. You guys go out there and showcase what you’re all about. You take the plaudits. That’s fine.’ I’m here to be the safety net. I know that I’m not always going to get it right in terms of the changes and the personnel that we pick but we’re trying our hardest week in week out. We’re watching numerous amounts of games. The scouting network has been superb so a big shout out to those guys, Rich (First Team Scout, Richard Piggford) and all the boys who are working tirelessly to every game known to man. It’s a real team effort.”

He added “Nothing happens overnight and it’s trying to deliver that to the fans. I know that they’re impatient but we’re doing everything behind the scenes to make sure that these boys are prepared and can go into every game with the most amount of information and detail to go and deliver and execute a game plan.

“Today, we tweaked it a little bit in terms of shape, I’m very forthcoming in what I expect, standard wise, and that’s what I was like on the football pitch. I demanded high standards and that’s not going to change going into managership.”

One minor disappointment was that they conceded deep into stoppage time denying them a clean sheet. Martin stated “I don’t want to put it down to one individual error. (Goalkeeper) Freddie (Norman) was superb throughout and the ball has bounced up and hit him on the chest and bounced back to their player. You can look back and say who’s following in as well. If you’re going to make any mistake in football, do it when you’re comfortable.”

After Welling’s fourth goal, still with over fifteen minutes to play, Martin brought on his three remaining substitutes. He explained “Dobbo (Logan Dobbs) was struggling with his ankle, it ballooned up and he didn’t train on Thursday. We wanted to give those boys some minutes as well and also protect those boys moving into Tuesday’s game.”

That game will have a little extra spice for Martin when they host the club for whom he played last season. He admitted “Tuesday’s going to be tough. I know the manager well and they’re going to be very well drilled. Playing under him last year I know what standards he sets so it’s going to be a tough game like any game in this league. They’re a fantastic footballing side and being in that dressing room with some of those boys was a real honour.”

Image courtesy of Keith Gillard