JOHN Docker is out to impress at Park View Road after being handed a trial by Welling United.
The former Thurrock midfielder played in Tuesday evening’s 2-1 London Senior Cup success over Mauritius Sports, a victory secured thanks to Adam Gross and Sanchez Ming (pen).
Manager Andy Ford was out looking for other new recruits on Tuesday, but revealed Docker would be in the first team squad for Saturday’s trip to Worcester.
The boss said: “John will probably be on the bench this weekend because I want to see him for myself.
“He has come here from Thurrock and did ok on Tuesday, so will be here for another couple of weeks.
“I was on a scouting mission at the same time as the London Cup match and Jimmy Dack took it.
“They were a club quite lower than us but the main priority for us was always to make sure we didn’t pick up any injuries.
“I’m delighted to say we haven’t because it was quite a physical encounter by all accounts.”
Welling went into Tuesday’s clash on the back of last weekend’s 0-0 draw at Newport County.
A string of motorway accidents delayed the Wings’ arrival at the stadium before the game eventually kicked-off almost half an hour late, but Ford claimed the disruption did not adversely affect his side.
He explained: “I thought we coped quite well with the traffic disruption.
“We didn’t panic and took the delayed 25 minutes to warm-up, so it didn’t really have any impact at all.
“It would have been easy to have used it as an excuse if we had got a poor result.
“I felt we coped very well defensively in windy conditions, but should have won the game by taking at least one of the five or six decent opportunities which fell our way. “We defended quite well in the last five minutes when they really had a go at us and I’ve been very pleased with our defensive record this season because it is one of the best in the division.
“What we have to do now is capitalise on this by starting to take the chances at the other end.”
Welling will be looking to solve the goal shortage this Saturday when they face another long away journey, this time in the Midlands at Worcester City.
Ford’s side will have revenge on their minds after their opponents won the corresponding fixture 3-1 last month, a point the manager was happy to concur with.
He said: “They beat us at home and I thought they thoroughly deserved it on the day, but we are going up there fully intending to put things right.
“Although they were beaten quite heavily at Maidenhead last weekend, they will be determined to bounce back at home so we have to be wary.
“I would be happy to come away with a point, but all three would be even better.”
Dorian Smith and Orlando Smith are Welling’s only absentees.
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