Ryan Kingsford scored a late brace as Welling came from behind to beat Braintree Town in a game that the Wings hosted at the University of Greenwich grounds in New Eltham.

In just the second minute, Welling were gifted the lead when Ryan Blackman put pressure on an Iron throw and former Wing Alfie Matthews’ attempted back pass flew over the trialist goalkeeper and into the far corner.

Three minutes later, the visitors levelled when Jacob Mensah sent Courtney Senior through and he squared for Anisius Lewis to roll home.

Kingsford volleyed wide after a Fumnaya Shomotun cross was knocked out then Lewis fired over at the other end. Shomotun had a shot saved before he crossed for Ade Azeez who side footed directly at the goalkeeper.

Both teams made multiple changes at the break and John Ufuah had an early long range effort pushed away. Kaan Bennett then turned his man and found Ufuah who shot wide. 

Midway through the second period, the Iron went ahead. Welling’s trialist goalkeeper committed a foul on the side of the of the penalty area and, after consulting with his assistant, the referee pointed to the spot. Fletcher Hubbard stepped up and converted comfortably.

Good work by Demaray Anyadike and Tyrell Miller-Rodney created a chance for Kingsford who fired over from very close range, however, with eight minutes remaining, he finished well from the edge of the area after Anyadike pulled it back. 

Unusually in a pre-season friendly, the referee used his red card to dismiss a Braintree trialist for foul and abusive language with three minutes remaining and Welling took advantage with the last kick of the match when Kingsford finished well having again been set up by Anyadike.

After the match, Welling manager Ryan Maxwell was pleased with the progress.

“There were positive things tonight.” he said “I thought we were quite industrious and I saw some more DNA that we are renowned for. There is a certain requirement that you have to fulfil here. Tonight, the goal was to be really hard to play against, and we were with quality as well. We missed numerous chances. I asked for certain things to be achieved today, and I think that I pretty much got most of what I wanted from them.” 

He was also happy the Kingsford scored his first goals in a Welling shirt.

“Great for Ryan to give him confidence.” Maxwell confirmed “You can’t get off the mark quickly enough in pre-season. He should have had a hat-trick tonight, let’s be honest, he’s missed from a yard, but it was nice for him to get a couple of goals. He’s a very clever player. He makes a lot of chances. He’s also a goalscorer as well.”

Overall, Maxwell is delighted with the make up of the squad with every outfield place up for grabs.

“I think that we’re a very competitive group. We’ve got a very, very deep squad and everyone’s got to outshine one another but in the right manner. How to do that is if I give you a job to do, you carry it out within the team. That will make the team gel. We’re pleased where we are but there’s more to come.”

Welling United: Trialist, Trialist, Gunner, Bertram-Cooper, Reeve; Blackman; Howard, Smith, Shomotun; Kingsford; Azeez.

Subs: Wright, Majoyegbe, El-Mogharbel, Miller-Rodney, Anyadike, Ufuah, Bennett. 

Pictures supplied by Chris Zimmerman.