Report
Welling picked up a solid point on the opening day of the new 2019/20 season at title favourites Havant & Waterlooville.
It was a gutsy performance from The Wings who were pinned back in their own half in the 2nd half but they travel back to North Kent with a point they would have surely took pre game.
Andy Drury had the first chance of the game as he hit a half volley straight at Wilks in the Wings goal.
Adam Coombes had the Wings first attempt on goal hitting a 25 yard free kick straight at the Havant wall which deflected for a corner.
However in the 11th minute Havant took the lead, Ayunga slotted a defence splitting ball into Roarie Deacon who beat Wilks with a low shot from the angle.
Havant were on top and Nicky Bailey hit a ferocious free kick that went just over the bar from 20 yards out.
Welling started to come back into the game and and Goldberg did well to latch onto a mistake in the Havant defence before drawing the keeper out but blazing over from an acute angle.
Coombes then hit another free kick this time
that beat the wall but Worner was right behind and gathered well. At the other end Ayunga from the edge of the area dragged an effort just wide.
In the 35th minute Welling had the ball in net a deep cross was bundled in at the back post by Rooney but he was adjudged to be offside. Just a minute later it was the turn of Havant to have a goal ruled out. Ayunga hit a low effort that Wilks kept out before Fogden fired home the rebound but the flag was raised.
In the 40th minute Welling grabbed the equaliser, great work by Goldberg saw him drive into the area before crossing for Coombes who cooly slotted past Worner from the penalty spot to open his account for the season.
Deacon had the last chance of the half but his effort was well blocked by the Welling defence.
The 2nd half was a little bit more one way traffic as Havant applied more pressure to the Wings defence. Ayunga saw his cross come shot come off the crossbar with Wilks beaten.
Wilks then done well to deny Ayunga from close range with his legs, before Fogden was foiled by Wilks with a smart save.
A dangerous cross by Straker just evaded Deacon in the Wings penalty area as Havant ramped up the pressure. An hour into the game Anderson lost the ball cheaply allowing Taylor to break into the area but somehow he fired wide.
Deacon then fired wide for Havant as Welling struggled to retain possession when they did have the ball.
With the game entering its final 10 minutes great play from Rooney saw him make space for a shot but curl an effort just over. Havant sub Alfie Rutherford saw a fierce free kick bravely deflected for a corner by the Welling wall.
With the game into the 5 minutes of time added on Welling ventured forward in the hope of an unlikely winner, Joe Anderson hitting an effort that was deflected behind the post for a corner. Then in the final minute of injury time a deep cross into the area almost found Jebb but his volley at the back post was blocked away. That was the last action of the game in which Welling will be more happy with the point than their hosts. Welling now host Kent Neighbours Maidstone United on Tuesday night at Park View Road 7.45pm Kick off.
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