Hopes of escaping relegation from the Isthmian League Premier Division for Welling United were given a massive boost when they defeated Dulwich Hamlet.

After the match, Welling manager Ryan Maxwell gave the credit to the players rather than him and his staff. “I would prefer to say, what a job the players have done.” he said.

“None of it would happen without the players application. We don’t kick any balls. It’s all down to the players’ mentality, attitude, their characters, their personality.”

“This is not for the faint hearted. Let me tell you here. A relegation battle for five and a bit months is not for everybody. We just coached them along the way but the players have done it all so far.”

Whenever Welling have setbacks, as the did at Brentwood on Easter Monday, they have responded positively. Maxwell confirmed: “We had some real tired legs on Monday. The response from Monday was fantastic. Any manager wants bounce-back-ability. We’ve had to show that numerous times.”

“That’s about character, not ability. I want to again give them huge, huge praise. We were excellent today. Performance wise I was delighted, and application and carrying out instructions, they were top draw so, again, all the plaudits and the well dones need to go to the players that took part today. They were outstanding.”

Dean Gunner and Troy Howard returned having been left out of the team on Easter Monday. Maxwell explained: “People may have looked at the team sheet and said ‘what’s he doing?’ Ultimately, Dean playing Saturday and Monday was an ask to then have him fresh today.”

“I felt that we needed his capabilities, arial threat today and he’s popped up with a goal and his performance was superb. As for Troy, he scored as well so two boys I rested scored, I think I might know what I’m doing.”

On top of playing their part in Welling’s clean sheet, centre backs Gunner and Lekan Majoyegbe were involved in the two goals. The danger that they cause from dead ball situations delights Maxwell.

“It’s a fantastic addition to our arsenal. It is why Dean was playing today. I thought that he would be a threat at set pieces plus we scored two here last Saturday so it just worked out the way we hoped and planned for. Educated guess or experience, either way, it’s worked.”

“Fantastic cross from Lekan (for Howard’s goal). I’m so happy for Lekan. He’s a super player and we spoke in training and said you might find yourself in this position in a game and there it is so, hopefully, that resonates with him.”

“We did set plays on Thursday night. That was important. I felt we got that right. The hard work we put into that, because it was repetitive, paid off because we got a goal from it.”

Sam Smith delivered the corner for Gunner’s goal, however, he might not have played having had to be substituted at Brentwood. “Another risk.” admitted Maxwell.

“Sam was injured and he’s done remarkably well to play at least seventy minutes today. His attitude is second to none. It’s pretty special. His performance is special as well. Phenomenal set piece taker, fantastic left foot. There’s more to him than that but he’s so important on our set plays.”

Keeping a clean sheet against a team that are fluid in attack also delighted Maxwell. “In a vital game where we don’t know what’s going on elsewhere, goal difference could be important. The reality is I’m all about winning.”

“I go for the win every week, home and away, and that’s how I’ve always managed and set my teams up but to keep a clean sheet against a team that are very dangerous, they scored four in a game recently against Potters Bar, they are dangerous.”

“They’ve got good individual qualities but we snuffed it out tactically and individually as players. It was a very attacking line-up. Attacking is probably their strength so we handled it and defended extremely well. Lots of work was done on this game today. I sacrificed the time and the players also did to be fully prepared.”

“They are playing with a confident swag and they’ve also got a cup final coming up so they do have something to play for. They have form. They need to keep form for that cup final. They have their places to play for. They’ll probably go and win their next game.”

Pictures supplied by Chris Zimmerman.