Despite being reduced to ten men Welling United continued their pre-season campaign with a well earned goal-less draw against National League South Billericay Town.

For the first twenty-seven minutes, Welling were the better team but then came the defining moment. The hosts’ Sam Smith and Billericay’s George Wind contested a fifty-fifty challenge. Smith got there first and got it away with Wind arriving seconds later to catch him in the ankle.

The referee got out his red card and Wind turned towards the tunnel before realising that it was Smith who was dismissed. That meant that the Wings had to change their shape and defend while looking to catch the visitors on the break.

In the first minute Welling netted, but well after the whistle had been blown for offside. Dean Gunner headed wide at the far post from a Smith corner before the turning point when Smith was sent off harshly. 

Jay Porter fired well over then, just before half time, Jon Benton had a shot blocked and the follow up was bundled home by Alfie Cerulli but it was Billericay’s turn to be denied by an offside flag.

Early in the second period, Nathan Bertram-Cooper made a great tackle but it fell to Benton whose shot was well saved by Welling’s goalkeeper. Two Billericay yellow cards in three minutes followed just after the hour mark.

Although Billericay were off target with a thirty-five yard free kick and a twenty-five yard shot on the turn by Cerulli, Welling’s defence coped well and weren’t unduly troubled.

After the match, Ryan Maxwell chose not to dwell on the unjust decision, but preferred to focus on the positives. “We started really well.” he said. “Things that we worked on, we could see them out there so I was delighted with how we started the game. We were on top until we had a man incorrectly sent off.

“Then we had a different game to manage and to play so we focussed on being positive and getting the most out of tonight. I was delighted with how organised we were out of possession. The boys had a night out on Saturday and they looked very together out there. I think that night out really helped and contributed to the performance. I was absolutely delighted with our work-rate, our energy, desire, all the things that we’re known for.”

There will be games through the season in which the team will be short-handed so, although not planned, it was good for Maxwell to see how his team would cope in such situations. “There is always something to learn in a game.” he continued. “We chose to get on with it and I like that character about the lads. That’s a great sign, particularly in a pre-season game.”

Obtaining a clean sheet also pleased Maxwell. He confirmed “It was the requisite that I asked for tonight. That was the most important thing as I know this team will score. We were looking dangerous until our man got sent off. We would have scored, I have no doubts about that, but clean sheets are your real bread and butter. If you can get the most clean sheets in the league, you’ll probably win it. We know how important they are. We were up against a very talented side who went up in the play-offs and defensively, we were brilliant.

“In a lot of ways we picked up where we left off last season. That’s the biggest compliment that I can give them.”

Welling United: Trialist, Otsei-Taiwo (Ramsay 58), Gunner (Majoyegbe 67), Bertram-Cooper, Arthur (Reeve 67); Miller-Rodney (Reynolds 61), Smith; Ufuah (Anyadike 64), Kingsford (Blackman 61), Shomotun (Bennett 52); Azeez (El-Mogharbel 77).

Goalscorers: None

Yellow cards: Kingsford (40 foul)

Red card: Smith (27 serious foul play)

Pictures supplied by Chris Zimmerman.