In form Weston-super-Mare kept their good run going at the expense of Welling United at Park View Road.
Following the Wings’ humbling at Boreham Wood two weeks earlier, Welling manager, Rod Stringer, rang the changes to his squad with three in and four out. Alex Lankshear and Sam Cornish made their full league debuts for the Wings, and Paul Osew, then Mitchel Bergkamp came on in the second half for their first league appearances.
Stringer’s team could barely have started better and went ahead in the second minute. Anointed Chukwu and Elliot Long, formerly team-mates at Wingate and Finchley, exhibited their understanding by linking to create an opportunity for the former. It looked as if he had delayed his shot and lost the chance but he moved it to his right to open up the angle and arrowed it into the bottom corner.
Further good Welling moves threatened to open up the Weston defence but the final pass kept going astray before Weston went close with a thunderous Reuben Reid strike that clipped the bar.
Gene Kennedy was just unable to get on the end of a Chukwu through ball then Daniel Martin almost caught out Weston goalkeeper Max Harris with a dipping diagonal cross that the custodian did well to tip over.
Slightly against the run of play, Weston drew level ten minutes before the break. Jamie Dodd whipped in a free kick that Welling failed to cut out and Reid headed home from inside the six yard box. Three minutes later, there was controversy as the Seagulls went ahead. A cross hit the off balance Dave Winfield on the arm three yards outside the penalty area. The referee gave a free kick but was persuaded by his assistant to award a penalty. Although Welling goalkeeper Rhys Lovett went the right way, Luke Coulson’s penalty was accurate and powerful enough to find the back of the net.
Dodd missed a great chance to extend the visitors’ lead when shooting wide from fifteen yards and it was a relief for Stringer when the half time break gave him the chance to regroup his team.
After the break, Weston were happy to mop up anything that Welling tried and the Wings’ attack was pretty toothless. Long had a couple of half chances but Harris had a comfortable second period with only a soft Winfield header registered as an effort on target.
Just under twenty minutes remained when the Seagulls added a third. A long clearance over the top sent Coulson clear and he went round Lovett before slotting it into the empty net.
Martell Taylor-Crossdale thought that he had a good claim for a penalty when he went down in the penalty area but the referee showed no interest and even nine minutes of stoppage time weren’t enough for Welling to create another opportunity.
Welling United: Lovett, Donkor, Martin (Osew 76), Burchell (Statham 46), Winfield, Lankshear, Cornish (Andrews 80), Kennedy, Chukwu, Long (Bergkamp 76), Grant (Taylor-Crossdale 61). Subs not used: None.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here