Hopes of recording back to back wins were dashed when Welling United crashed to a heavy defeat at Weymouth in the Vanarama National League South.
Coming into the game, Weymouth had only won twice in the league all season, with no victories on home soil. However, Welling have always found the Dorset coastal club a difficult place to visit and have not won there for over twenty years.
Early on, it appeared that Welling might end that run as they played some good attacking football. James Alabi headed home but was deemed to be offside, then Weymouth’s goalkeeper, Will Buse, did well to keep out Finn Ballard-McBride.
However, it was the Terras who broke the deadlock in the twentieth minute. Welling failed to close Brooklyn Genesini down and he blasted a spectacular twenty-five yard effort into the top corner.
Euan Pollock flicked a header beyond the far post before Welling had another good chance when Dave Winfield met Daniel Martin’s cross with a firm header that was well saved by Buse.
Despite the Wings having had by far the better of the opening thirty minutes, they found themselves two down when they failed to clear a Brandon Goodship free kick and Jake McCarthy netted from close range.
Two minutes later, the visitors reduced the deficit when Alabi scored his first goal for the club, heading home from a left wing cross.
Although still behind at the break, Stringer will know that his team had been the superior in the first half and confident that his team could turn it around in the second period. However, eleven minutes in, they conceded from a further defensive blunder. Goodship was given another opportunity to sling in a free kick and it appeared that it was too close to goalkeeper, Dylan Berry. He failed to hold it, though, and Josh McQuoid was gifted a tap in and took full advantage.
Stringer responded by bringing on Zain Walker for Statham, and Martell Taylor-Crossdale for Ballard-McBride. It almost paid dividends when Taylor-Crossdale combined well with Alabi before squaring to Walker just inside the penalty area. He took aim but side-footed well over.
Moments later, the hosts added a fourth. A low cross came in and Riccardo Di Trolio and Pollock tangled. There didn’t appear to be much in it but the referee deemed otherwise and pointed to the spot. McCarthy stepped up and fired home via the inside of the post.
Three minutes later, the Terras made it five. Genesini was again given time to size up his options twenty five yards out, and he shot home in a fashion even more spectacular than his opener.
There was no coming back from that and it took a good diving save by Berry to keep out Leo Hamblin’s effort. Shortly afterwards, former Welling manager Warren Feeney was able to celebrate his first victory in charge at Weymouth.
Welling United: Berry, Statham (Walker 57), Martin, Quick (Burchell 69), Winfield, Di Trolio, Davis, Grant (Andrews 82), Alabi (Redfearn 77), Kennedy, Ballard-McBride (Taylor-Crossdale 57). Subs not used: None.
