The Romans lose their way as Welling beat Bath

Victory at home to Bath City extended Welling United’s unbeaten Vanarama National League South run to four matches, however, they had to work hard to claim the three points.

Having won at Slough Town, they drew with Tonbridge Angels and at Aveley before having to wait fifteen days before playing another league game. During the intervening break, the Wings cut their squad before playing a trial match against Bromley B, and winning a Kent Senior Cup quarter final at Phoenix Sports.

However, it was league points that eighteenth placed Welling needed, and would not want to have lost against one of the six clubs below them, so a good result against Bath was vital. Only five starters remained from the team that played at Phoenix as manager, Rod Stringer, named the eleven players that he considered to be the best team to beat Bath.

Coming into the game, Welling had only won one of the last eight matches between the two clubs so history was not on the Wings’ side.

Other than captain Dave Winfield, it was a very young Welling team and they struggled against their more experienced opposition in the early stages. Elliott Frear had a low shot saved by Rhys Lovett before Scott Wilson’s drive cross created a chance for Luke Russe that he should have put away from five yards, but Lovett managed to get across and make an astonishing save.

Lovett made a more comfortable save from Joe Raynes before the Wings went ahead in the nineteenth minute. Jack Burchell weighed up his options before aiming a long pass behind the Bath defence. Jack Batten was unable to to get it away when pressed by Josh Redfearn, and the Welling striker controlled it with his knee before lifting it over goalkeeper Harvey Wiles-Richards and inside the far post.

Another outstanding save by Lovett to push a low shot by Jordan Alves around the post followed before Martell Taylor-Crossdale fired over after TJ Bramble intercepted a pass as Bath attempted to play out from the back unsuccessfully. Then Alves launched an effort high into the trees in Danson Park.

As half time approached, Scott Wilson headed wide after Lovett made a good block with his feet to keep out a shot by Danny Greenslade,

After the break, Alves took a tumble in the penalty area when alongside Taylor-Crossdale and was lucky to escape a caution for simulation as he fell far too easily before he shot wide after a collision between Bramble and Zain Walker gave him some unexpected space.

Frear had a low cross-shot save by Lovett with still over twenty-five minutes remaining however, the Romans lost their way after that and Welling weren’t bothered again until they had to throw bodies in the way of shots in a goalmouth scramble in the closing minutes.

Four additional minutes were signalled but substitutions meant that five and a half were played before the Welling players were able to celebrate an important victory with their supporters.

Welling United: Lovett, Statham, Lankshear, Cornish, Burchell, Winfield, Walker (Long 69), Kennedy, Redfearn (Andrews 90+1), Bramble (Perkins 90+2), Taylor-Crossdale (Donkor 85). Subs not used: Johnson.