Following last weekend’s F.A. Trophy success at Concord Rangers, Welling United hosted Bath City and claimed the three points they needed so badly.
It was Jamie Day’s first league game back in charge of the team and the Wings were good value for just their second home victory of the season.
Probably the only thing that would have disappointed him was that despite his rallying call after the game at Concord, only 466 turned up to watch the game. Those who stayed away missed a treat as the team put in a professional performance and played some attractive football.
They came out strongly and had already come close twice when Adam Coombes put them ahead in the sixth minute. Matt Fish crossed to the far post, Danny Waldren knocked back and Coombes fired home from the edge of the area.
Harry Girling was kept on his toes by a Tyler Harvey cross shot that he watched curl over.
Another Harry, striker Crawford almost made it two but his header from Sam Hatton’s corner was deflected over.
After 25 minutes, Welling were forced to make a change with Christian Nanetti replacing Pierre Joseph-Dubois but that could have worked in their favour as his style of play gave makeshift Bath left back Sekani Simpson a tough afternoon.
As the first half was drawing to a close, Nanetti hurried Simpson into making a hasty pass to goalkeeper Max O’Leary from the bye-line. Coombes reacted quickly and fired in from a tight angle but it clipped O’Leary’s heel and deflected into the side netting for a corner.
On the stroke of half time Welling had a let off when Ryan Broom’s deep cross found Andy Watkins at the far post but his close range header clanged against the post and came out.
Two minutes into the second half, Bath drew level when Frankie Artus rose to loop a header from a corner just under the crossbar.
To their credit, Welling refused to buckle and with the slope and wind in their favour they dominated the remainder of the second period.
Crawford and Hatton both had shots saved before the two combined but Hatton’s rocket flew just wide of the far post with O’Leary beaten.
Eventually, their lead was restored when Nanetti’s run was halted by a foul by Artus in the penalty area. Artus was cautioned for dissent but the delay did not disturb Coombes who converted for his 21st goal of the season in all competitions.
Artus continued to moan and was lectured but not shown a second yellow card. That may have been in Gary Owers’ mind when he substituted him a few minutes later.
Coombes turned provider for the goal that gave Welling some breathing space. He collected a Fish through ball and drew O’Leary out before pulling back for Crawford to score the goal his performance deserved.
Day’s team saw out the remainder of the game in complete control and he was delighted with the performance “I’m really pleased. They’ve worked their socks off for the last couple of weeks and when you do that you get your rewards. I said when I first came in that they have got quality. They just lacked a little bit of structure and discipline.
“I thought we started the game really well and deservedly took the lead, a very good goal as well, and then showed great character to come back into it after conceding and playing some good stuff as well as being ruthless and getting the win.”
He continued “I actually thought, at times, we played some good football, but we managed to mix it as well and put it in good areas and won second balls and I thought we defended well when we had to. To concede like we did and then come back into it, for me it’s shown how far we’ve come in a short period of time but it has to continue and we’re not going rest on that.”
Welling United: Girling, Fish, Brown, Hatton, Francis, Hayles, Joseph-Dubois (Nanetti 25), Waldren (Bray 90), Crawford, Coombes, Oakley (Fuseini 85).
Subs not used: Lewington, Bray, Johnson.
Bath City: O’Leary, Rigg, Ball (Simpson 5), Batten, Hemmings, Murphy, Broom, Artus (Marshall 72), Harvey, Morgan, Watkins (McCootie 72).
Subs not used: Phillips, Diallo.
Referee: Elliott Kaye
Assistants: Daniel Richards and Edward Smiths
Attendance: 466
Welling star player: Harry Crawford