Three late Cray Wanderers goals confined Welling United to defeat in an incident packed Isthmian League Premier Division local derby. After the game, Welling manager Ryan Maxwell offered his thoughts.

“First of all, congratulations to Cray.” he said before continuing. “We’re a step three club. We’ve got to play Saturday, Monday. That’s fine, but so should the opposition.”

“We didn’t play well. We were second to most things in the first half. Second half, Lekan (Majoyegbe)’s got to take responsibility, bless him, because he’s been unbelievable for me, unbelievable. He’s got sent off for two yellows and, ultimately, it’s changed the game.”

“In saying that we were still in it. Then their keeper gets sent off and you think there’s another opportunity to stamp our authority on the game. We didn’t, particularly. Nowhere near enough and I think we were naive from then on in.”

“We had to make changes today, we had to. Some players were struggling, couldn’t do Saturday, Monday but I brought players (substitutes) back onto the pitch who should be absolutely fine for thirty minutes or so and I felt that we needed to capitalise a lot more than we did.”

“It’s been a poor day at the office. There’s a lot to be said for the fact that they were tired, lets just call it the way it is, but that’s not an excuse. I’m just gutted the way we performed and Cray were the better side. We got what we deserved and no matter how you slice it, that’s the bottom line.”

He continued: “They (Cray) haven’t had to manage that issue in terms of tiredness. They were in a better place than us on that but I still back my boys to do enough even if they’ve only got twenty-five minutes in them. I felt that if it was a close game, they could be the difference and certainly have the ability to do so, so I’m disappointed that they didn’t have the impact that I’d hoped but we’ve had a great start.”

“You know what I say, never too high, never too low. It’s not going to affect what I have for dinner tonight. It’s not going to affect my sleep.”

“I knew that today was going to be extremely tough because they’re a good side, they’ve got some very good attacking players, and they’re quick and they’re organised against what might be a jaded back four.”

“I made one change but the other three started and played on Saturday. I was concerned about the potential jadedness. I think, unfortunately, it just took its toll a little bit.”

As Cray Wanderers didn’t have a game on Saturday, they were able to name an unchanged side tat played one week earlier. “They’re going to be really fresh, and raring to go.” said Maxwell.

“Having said that, we did get in at one-all, it wasn’t three-nil at half time, it was one-all so I’m disappointed in how the game panned out thereafter, rather than the whole ninety minutes. We didn’t play well, though. Not anything like what we’re capable of, anything like how we have done recently, and that’s tiredness. That’s mental tiredness.”

Making six changes and having five regular starters on the bench gave Maxwell the opportunity to see how the squad adapted. “I would say the starting eleven will never be the best.” he said.

“We have so many boys who are so similar in their impact, they’re effectiveness. It’s hard to analyse them today because some were tired, but there were a couple that weren’t tired that don’t have that excuse, I suppose, but it’s our sixth game.”

“I’ve had a good look of who’s who and what’s what and we’re a very, very good team. We’ve a very, very competitive squad and I would have been confident playing them on an even playing field. It wasn’t and, unfortunately, it took its toll today.”

Picture supplied by Ronnie Hicks.