Blyth Spartans 1 v 3 Welling Utd

FA Trophy Second Round

WELLING United manager Adrian Pennock has revealed the reason for his team's recent slump in results and how the FA Trophy win at Blyth Spartans signals a turn around in fortunes.

In an exclusive interview with News Shopper, Pennock firstly praised his players for a superb performance as goals from Jamie Day, Danny Kedwell and Rob Owen secured a passage into the last 16 of the competition.

At the time of going to press Woking and Northwich Victoria were preparing to replay for the right to host Welling in the third round next month.

But Pennock, whose team have not won in the league since November 22, went on to reveal how a return to their Thamesmead training pitch the week before the cup tie has made all the difference.

He said: "After the Huddersfield match at the beginning of November we lost our training pitch at Thamesmead College and it has been a key factor as to why we have not been as good as we were at the start of the season.

"It is a really good facility with a full-size astro-turf pitch but there was a problem with the floodlights and builders had to dig up the cables to discover they were split and needed repairing.

"There were a lot of delays waiting to see who would pay for the work and all the time we were training at the park and it just was not right.

"We could not practice set pieces, do our shadow play and generally hone the shape of the team."

He added: "But last week we finally went back to training at Thamesmead and against Blyth we looked solid and well organised again."

Despite the 630-mile round trip to Blyth, Welling turned in a professional performance and Pennock was delighted with everything about the day.

He said: "Blyth is a difficult place to go because the crowd is hostile, the pitch is very boggy and uneven and there is, of course, the long journey.

"In the first half we stamped our authority on the game and in every position we were stong and physical and we scored three very good goals."

He added: "We looked strong in defence and midfield and going forward we looked like we would score goals."

It was not all good news however as Steve Perkins picked up an injury with half an hour to go and Pennock had to pull on the shirt himself.

He said: "It was something I did not really want to do but when Perkins was injured, Blyth were playing five up front.

"I could have mixed our defence round but I did not want to and so I came on to keep a high defensive line.

The 34-year-old, who rarely wears the kit these days, added: "To be honest I did not make many overlapping runs and I am sure the shirts and shorts have shrunk in the wash since my day, they were very tight."

Pennock was also full of praise for the Welling United faithful who made the long trip north.

He said: "Our supporters were absolutely fantastic. We must have taken more than 100 up there and they sang their hearts out all through the game. The win was for them."

On the third round draw Pennock said: "It would have been lovely to be at home but whoever we get it will be very difficult.

"We will have to deal with it when it happens but we're just pleased to be in the last 16."

Against Blyth Spartans the Wings took the lead when Day hit a howitzer volley from 25-yards into the bottom left-hand corner and 14 minutes later Kedwell headed the second from an Adrian Clarke corner.

Welling added number three early in the second half when Matt Bodkin's superb run set up Che Stadhart who released Owen to slot past Craig Turns in the Blyth goal.

With 15 minutes left Blyth scored their consolation when former Premiership player Graham Fenton volleyed past Jamie Turner.

Back in the Nationwide Conference South, Welling travel to Newport tonight before welcoming Weston-super-Mare to Park View Road.

MATCH FACTS: WELLING: Turner; Shearer; Solomon; Perkins (Pennock, 70); C Moore; Bodkin; Owen; Kedwell (Pinnock, 84); Clarke, Stadhart; Day.

SUBS NOT USED: Ibrahim; D Moore; Green.

ATT: 784.