On Saturday Welling United continued their pre-season campaign with a match at Cray Valley (PM).

Manager Rod Stringer and Assistant Manager Kevin Watson started their warm ups with several trialists in their victory at Sittingbourne. Since then they have gradually whittled down the players that have been offered terms and those that they have allowed to go to search for other opportunities, with just a handful remaining.

Since the game at Sittingbourne, further friendlies have been played against a Leyton Orient XI (home), Dover Athletic (away), Erith and Belvedere (away), and Bishop’s Stortford (away). Performances and results have been mixed but are not crucial as formations and playing personnel are tested.

However, Stringer was not happy with their showing in their game at Cray Valley’s Arctic Stadium. His debrief lasted for over thirty minutes before he expressed his dissatisfaction to Wings TV.

They could barely have got off to a worse start than to go behind with under a minute on the clock. Hassan Ibrahiym let fly from thirty-five yards and it flew into the top corner giving goalkeeper Javarn Pitterson no chance.

Within minutes, Welling had a goal disallowed when following a slick move, Reece Grant sent Anointed Chukwu through and he fired home only to see an assistant referee’s flag raised for what must have been a very tight offside call.

Grant’s pressing then caused a defender to pass back to Millers’ goalkeeper Max Ovenden who dithered long enough for Grant to dispossess him and round him. However, he was also aghast when he saw his shot come back out off the post. Soon after, he had another chance but drilled his shot into the side netting.

Michael Ademiluyi shot wide of the near post for the hosts before Chukwu missed a great chance with a close range volley after brilliant work by Oscar Borg. Ibrahiym came close to doubling the Millers’ lead just before half time, but his shot came back out off the bar.

After the break, Cray had more of the possession without troubling Pitterson too much. Ademiluyi twice shot over before one of their substitutes, Freddie Parker, also failed to keep his shot down. The Welling goalkeeper did have to make a regulation save from Ademiluyi but it was the Wings who drew the next blood.

Two substitutes combined as Cameron Andrews found Gene Kennedy in the penalty area and he made space before sliding it into the bottom corner.

Ten minutes later, and with seven minutes remaining, the Millers restored their lead. A corner wasn’t cleared and Danny Waldren’s shot was blocked into the path of Matt Vigor who swept it home.

Chukwu might have levelled moments later when Andrews and Kennedy combined to send him clear but with just the substitute goalkeeper to beat, he side-footed wide.

There were no further chances and Stringer will need to make decisions on the remaining trialists with two friendlies remaining,

Welling United: Pitterson, Johnson, Borg, Birchall, Trialist, Wells, Munns, A. Grant, Chukwu, R. Grant, Cornish. Subs: Lovett, Andrews, Kennedy, H. Walker, Trialist.