Welling United drop deeper into National League South drop danger after reverse at Slough Town
BY MARK DOIG
Away day woes continued for Welling United as they crashed to a 2-1 defeat at Slough Town in a match that was affected by the remnants of Storm Eunice.
With wind gusting around the stadium, attempts to play long passing football became a lottery and it appeared that the 3G pitch was wet as it was very zippy and both teams struggled to maintain any sort of possession.
Jack Sims, restored to the Welling team after injury, made the first save of the game from Slough’s Imran Kayani before Ade Shokunbi and Aaron Barnes both failed to hit the target for Welling.
After just shy of half an hour, Welling were awarded a penalty when Jonathan North was adjudged to have fouled Dipo Akinyemi as he was first to Brad Stevenson’s diagonal cross.
Having waited for the referee to show North a yellow card, Akinyemi converted the penalty, sending North the wrong way.
Three minutes later, Slough were level. Chi Ezennolim slipped, allowing Kayani to cut inside and guided his left foot shot into the bottom corner.
Barnes almost restored Welling’s lead but Scott Davies got back to clear off the line and Slough made the most of it by putting the hosts ahead. Aaron Kuhl tumbled over Maxwell Statham’s leg and a penalty was awarded. Kuhl put his laces through it to smash it home.
Lee Togwell had a good opportunity for the Rebels immediately after the break but headed over from close range.
Welling had the better of things after that, but they struggled to create chances. Barnes looked for Tom Derry with a cross but he couldn’t reach it. Ezennolim arrived late at the far post but could not force it home from a tight angle.
Akinyemi then came close with an outside of the boot curler that looked to be heading for the top corner but just faded at the last moment then, at the other end, Sims held on well to a shot from George Hunt that was deflected.
As the game moved into the last 10 minutes, Welling again went close when Danny Parish hit a shot that hit the bar but went over before Kristian Campbell had a dangerous shot blocked. A last-gasp effort from Derry went wide and the defeat for the Wings dropped them to the penultimate spot in the National League South table.
PICTURES: DAVE BUDDEN
Main pic: Maxwell Statham fouls Aaron Kuhl inside the area
