5 days ago
Welling crash to season opener defeat at Cheshunt
New look Welling United crashed to defeat at Cheshunt in their Isthmian League Premier Division curtain raiser.
All sixteen of Lee Martin's Wings squad made their league debut for the club, possibly some sort of a record, as Welling started their first season at step three for over forty years.
Martin has always stated that he will not play 'square pegs in round holes' so with no left back in his squad he went for a system with three centre halves and wing-backs. He also decided to select Slavomir Huk in goal over Freddie Norman.
Huk was in action early on when doing well to tip over a first time shot by Antonis Vasiliou. Welling then came close at the other end when Jack Paxman cut in and shot and it flew back out off the far post.
In the sixteenth minute, Welling went ahead. A corner wasn't cleared and Ruben Shakpoke was alert to fire home.
Five minutes later, the hosts levelled. Sam Granville sliced it into the path of George Nunn, presenting him with a simple tap in.
Shakpoke's high pressing then gave him the opportunity to dispossess Raul Da Silva before bearing down on goal. He tried to slip it past goalkeeper Preston Edwards but the goalkeeper made a good save, when a square pass might have been a better option with George Evans awaiting a tap in.
Poor defending down Welling's left hand led to Cheshunt going ahead twelve minutes before half time. Although Logan Dobbs did well to hook the original chance off the line, the Ambers recycled it and Vasiliou's shot dipped just under the bar and inside the far post.
Nine minutes later, the hosts added a third with the Wings' defence again in disarray. Huk did well to block Sam Granville's shot but it came out to Arthur Iontton who fired home.
At half time, Martin responded by making a triple substitution with James Dyer, Tom Leahy, and John Ufuah replacing Hamilton Antonio, Greg Cundle and Evans. Paxman dropped back into the holding midfield role with Dyer in a more advanced central midfield position.
Ufuah and Luke O'Neill were both off target for the Wings before a Shakpoke shot was deflected over. Huk made a good save from Lordon Akolbire however, it was Welling who drew the next blood with twelve minutes remaining to give themselves a life-line. Dyer's well paced through ball sent Ufuah clear and he finished with aplomb.
Soon after, Welling might have levelled. Ufuah again burst through but, rather than shoot, he squared to Leahy who failed to get power in his shot and Edwards was able to get across to save.
As Welling searched for a leveller, they again defended poorly and Jesse Effa, who had only just come on, arrowed a shot into the bottom corner to ensure the Wings headed home empty handed.
Welling United: Huk; O'Neill (Lewis 65), Dobbs, Majoyegbe; Antonio (Dyer 46); Williams-Bushell, Penn, Paxman, Cundle (T. Leahy 46); Evans (Ufuah 46), Shakpoke (Sinai 72). Sub not used: None.
