Tuesday night games at Park View Road have their own unique atmosphere and Welling United’s victory over Braintree Town was right up there with the best of them.
There is something special about a come from behind victory especially under the floodlights.
In truth, for the first half an hour or so, it looked as if Braintree were going to cruise to a routine victory but Welling’s passing football ran them ragged in the second period and the Wings were good value for their win,
Two players were signed on loan in time for the match and Tobi Sho-Silva (Charlton Athletic) made his second Welling United debut while Aristide Baselle (AFC Bournemouth) watched on from the bench.
Harry Beautyman shot wide early on before Braintree were forced into a change with Steve Smith replacing Remy Clerima.
It did not appear to hamper the Iron too much, as they went ahead five minutes later through Jordan Cox.
Jamie Turner was called into making a comfortable save from Dan Walker and Simeon Akinola headed over from a Walker corner.
Despite their territorial advantage, the Wings defence kept goal-bound shots to a minimum and a Kenny Davis shot that sailed wide, and another Walker effort was fielded by Turner.
Finally, Welling managed to put some passes together and a free flowing move just before the break ended with Jake Gallagher volleying firmly at the Iron goalkeeper Nick Hamman.
Whatever the Wings management said at the break had an immediate effect,
Tyrone Marsh broke free of the back line and was brought down by Alan Massey just outside the penalty area. After waiting for the Iron defender to be booked, Beautyman touched the free kick to Chris Bush who drilled an equaliser into the bottom corner.
Buoyed by the goal, Welling ran the Braintree team ragged with much coming through the impressive Sam Corne, while the Wings powerful front three caused endless problems to the Iron defence.
Bassele, who had a spell with Welling in the 2013-14 season replaced Marsh to stretch the defence further but it was the next Wings change that brought about the opening from which they went ahead.
Corne, who had started to cramp, was withdrawn and Fyfield Jamal came on and the former York City and Grimsby Town made an almost immediate impact.
Seeing Beautyman’s run, he threaded through a perfect ball and the Wings midfielder notched his third goal of the season with a near post shot through Hamman’s legs.
Chasing the game, Braintree came agonisingly close to an equaliser when a Smith shot took a deflection that left Turner helpless, but cannoned back off the framework of the goal.
No further opportunities fell Braintree’s way and Welling were good value for their first win of the season.
Welling United: Turner, Fazakerley, Jefford, Gallagher, Fagan, Bush, Beautyman, Corne (Fyfield 74), Sho-Silva, Nouble (Hudson 84), Marsh (Baselle 66).
Unused substitutes: Butcher, Williams.
Braintree Town: Hamann, Brundle, Habergham, Issac, Massey, Walker (Bakare 68), Davis, Akinola, Cox (Sparkes 48), Clerima (Smith 10), Mulley.
Unused substitutes: Pentney, Maybanks.
Referee: Christopher Powell
Attendance: 506
Welling star player: Chris Bush
Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.