Determined Welling United claimed a hard earned point in their final Vanarama National League South match of the season played at Slough Town.

Central defenders Jack Burchell and Lachlan Byrd exemplified their will with a series of headers, blocks and great tackles to keep the scores level in the first half. After the break they were much improved, and they finished the season on six matches unbeaten.

David Amoo almost got in for Welling early on but Slough goalkeeper Dan Lincoln charged out quickly to claim. After that, the Rebels enjoyed a spell of pressure. Matt Lench attempted to lob Reice Charles-Cook but the Wings custodian held comfortably.

Nathan Minhas then held up a long pass forward before laying it back to Josh Jackman whose shot was too straight and Charles-Cook made another regulation save. Minhas had a shot half blocked and fielded by the Welling goalkeeper as the visitors struggled with the swirling wind.

Johnny Goddard then picked out Dan Bayliss whose close range header was held well by Charles-Cook. Bayliss headed another corner over before a quick throw found Leon Chambers-Parillon with enough space to attempt an effort with the outside of the post that went beyond the far post.

Yet another great opportunity for Slough was missed when Goddard met David Ogbonna’s low cross and, somehow, managed to fire over from inside the six yard box. Charles-Cook then got down well to save from Chambers-Parillon.

Having failed to make the most of their chances, Slough almost paid the penalty when Jason Adigun’s defence splitting cross field pass sent Gene Kennedy through but he shot beyond the far post.

Chambers-Parillon then shot straight at Charles-Cook and the busy Welling goalkeeper was called into action once more before half time when making an excellent save from Minhas.

After the interval, Welling had far more of the game. Antony Papadopoulos squared to Anthony Grant who turned and drilled his shot just past the far post. Reece Grant then created another opening for the Wings when he sent Adigun away. His shot was parried by former Kent cricketer Lincoln to Cameron Green, wide on the left, but his shot failed to find the target.

Lincoln then saved from Reece Grant before the hosts went close when a corner was cleared as far as Goddard whose first time volley was deflected past the post.

Just under twenty minutes remained when Welling went ahead. Adigun’s brilliant turn on the right touchline wrong-footed two Slough players enabling him to break forward. He played it inside to Papadopoulos whose first time pass sent Adigun bursting into the penalty area. He then squared across the face of goal and Reece Grant finished clinically.

Six minutes later, the hosts equalised in controversial circumstances. Ogbonna went down very easily under a challenge by Green and a penalty kick was awarded. Whether soft or not, Goddard wasn’t bothered and he fired home, sending Charles-Cook the wrong way.

Papadopoulos had a free kick saved before Adigun almost won the match with an audacious effort from fifty yards that caught out Lincoln before going narrowly off target.

It has been an extraordinary three months and Welling finished the season on a run of just two defeats in their last nineteen matches.

Slough Town: Lincoln, Jackman, Eweka, Davies (George 80), Bayliss (Dandy 82), Prosper, Ogbonna, Lench, Goddard, Minhas, Chambers-Parillon (Abisogun 80). Subs not used: Sobte, Spicer.

Goalscorers: Goddard (77)

Yellow cards: Eweka

Welling United: Charles-Cook, Johnson (Williams-Lowe 78), Green, A. Grant (Munns 66), Burchell, Byrd, Adigun, Kennedy, Amoo (Bramble 60), R. Grant, Papadopoulos. Subs not used: Lema, Roscrow.

Goalscorers: R. Grant (71)

Yellow cards: A. Grant

Referee: Ayrton Hursey

Assistants: Adam Steel and Bogdan Khimych

Attendance: 1,849

Images courtesy of Dave Budden