Having dropped back into the Isthmian League Premier Division bottom four, Welling United reacted positively with victory at home to Chichester City. After the game, Ryan Maxwell shared his thoughts.
“I’m absolutely delighted.” he said. “It was a tough game. They’ve got some very good players and the play quite a good controlling game of football, possession wise. We knew what we would face, and having an enormous throw you have to stand up to, which we did. I thought we were really good today. For the most part of the game I thought we were the better side as well. We created the most chances, certainly, but it was all about the three points again and that’s what we got so mission complete today. The boys are absolutely over the moon, three wins from four, unbeaten in four. I’m so proud of them because they’re really playing well.
“It’s not easy to play well in this scenario, but we played some great football today and that’s full credit to the player because every one of them has got real character and confidence within a battle and not everyone has that. It’s not my first battle down the bottom. I’ve had to grind them out one-nil over the years but this team has a little bit more about it and I’m really, really, really proud of them.”
Results on Good Friday meant that Welling started the day back in the bottom four so there was a bit of extra pressure. Although Maxwell would rather concentrate on what he can control, he couldn’t deny it. “Let’s be honest about it, but pressure’s a privilege. We’re lucky to be here. The club was dead and buried months ago so the pressure to keep going is an invited one because at least we have it. It’s in our own hands. It wasn’t before, with us ten points adrift and a game extra played, but it’s in our own hands so welcome it, run towards it. That’s been the attitude and they’ve shown it today. Of course there’s extra pressure. I’ve told them to enjoy it.
“I thought we were great today.” he continued. “It’s a very difficult pitch. It’s no-one’s fault at this time of the season when we’re groundsharing. It’s not going to be conducive but we played it well and the goal was quality from Troy (Howard) when making it for Ade (Azeez) so we know we’re a threat in certain areas. We’ve got many routes to goal now and I was very confident that we’d get the win. Nil-nil at half time, all to play for, but we were the better side in the first half. Uphill seems to suit us and the boys were fantastic. I’m delighted for everybody involved today because that was a real team effort.”
Managing injuries is another part of the job and Maxwell took Howard off immediately after the second goal. “I think that it was just a tightness bearing in mind that he’s a sprinter. He’s played a lot of minutes of late. When I first signed him, we had to take him off and build him up. I know him. I’m getting information back from Troy. We had to take him off or we would have lost him for a month or six weeks.
“Now he’s at a stage where he had to come off today, he could have played on but we’ve got five more games to go so we’ve got to keep him going and that little moment was enough.”
Azeez missed a great opportunity in the opening minutes but was still confident to get into the right places and ended the afternoon with two goals. “Me and Ade have a great relationship.” confirmed Maxwell. “We’re both men of faith and we talk about it quite a lot. I said to him last night ‘You’re a warrior, you’re a leader and it’s why your here. It’s why I’m managing you.’ I believe in that. I’m so pleased that today this warrior got his rewards. Bearing in mind he missed a penalty last week, if you keep on keeping on with a big righteous heart, you’ll get rewarded.”
Dean Gunner scored the important first goal and is another who could be described as a warrior. “Tremendous.” beamed Maxwell. “He talked well, led well, won his headers, big clearances, Dean’s been great for us. A centre half getting goals is a great added tool for a manager. We’ve got two centre halves who can score. We’ve got routes to goal, many of them, the team know them and that’s why we’re structured better and the belief is sky high.”
Image courtesy of Keith Gillard