Both VCD Athletic and Welling United’s management were pleased with their teams’ respective performance in an entertaining pre-season friendly in Crayford.

At half time, the Wings held a two goal lead through goals by Tom Leahy and Cameron Andrews. However, both teams made changes in the second half and Ollie Freeman’s brace, his second with three minutes remaining, restored parity.

Deep into stoppage time, Welling’s Gil Carvalho was brought down in the penalty area. He got up to convert from the spot to win it for the Wings with the last kick of the match.

Danny Joy, one of VCD’s joint managers said “From our point of view, I thought we played really well. I thought we played some lovely football and I don’t think you could see that there was a massive gulf between the two sides. Maybe the difference in the first half was that Welling were more clinical in the box. They had two chances and took them, we had four of five but couldn’t find the right pass. 

“It’s still pre-season. There’s a difference in levels and there’s a reason for that but I thought we more than held our own today.”

Overall, Joy is happy with the progress since winning promotion in May. “It’s been good. It’s been difficult. We’ve had a lot of new faces come in that have all settled in. We were missing six first team players today but I think that the boys who’ve come in have more than acquitted themselves so it’s positive for us.”

Lee Martin, Welling’s manager, was away so Billy Bingham, one of his assistants, gave his views. “I was really delighted today.” he said. “As a team I thought, for the first time in a while, we looked like a real team. There’s a real good block there to build upon going into the season. 

“We made changes because there’s trialists that need to be played, people need to get minutes, but overall I was really pleased. No points are won or lost, but to get the momentum, that winning mentality, it was excellent to get the three-two.”

Shortly after scoring, Leahy had to be substituted but Bingham wasn’t too concerned. He said “It was just a precaution. He was out for a couple of weeks with his hamstring and it was a bit tight so we thought that we’d take him off just in case.” 

“Other players were unavailable. One was ill, one away and although present, Jack Paxman and Greg Cundle were both rested. Bingham said “As management staff we took it upon ourselves to pull them out as they had a few little niggles but the aim is for two weeks time and the first game of the season.

“If we’d lost them today and they were out for six weeks, it would have been a big problem so we took a precaution and hope to have them back on Tuesday.” 

VCD Athletic: Walker; Lawrence, Sargent, Christie, Gulliver; Rutherford; Ikebausi, Evans, Fares; Pingling, Olawole.

Substitutes: Leonard, Heatley, Freeman, Griffin, Trialist A, Trialist B.

Goals: Freeman (77), (87)

Welling United: Huk; Trialist A, Majoyegbe, O’Neill, Trialist B; Trialist C; J. Leahy, Andrews, Ufuah; T. Leahy, Shakpoke.

Substitutes: Trialist D, Simmons, Sinai, Lewis, Carvalho, Trialist E.

Goals: T. Leahy (28), Andrews (37), Carvalho pen (90+4).

Picture supplied by Kieran North.