Welling United 2-0 Billericay Town
Welling bounced back from defeat at Maidstone last week to record a deserved victory at home to Billericay Town.
Billericay keeper Alan Julian produced a good early save to deny Philip Roberts before stopping Diaz Wright with another fine save. Dipo Akinyemi then saw a shot deflect over as Welling started the game on the front foot.
Roberts then burst through on goal but his dinked effort looked to have beat Julian but his effort lacked the pace to go over the line and was hacked away. Julian who looked to be carrying a hip injury again saved well to push away Cook’s shot around the post.
It was Welling v Alan Julian again and this time Coombes done well to make space for the shot but his left footed shot was creeping in until Julian pushed it away.
A rare Billericay attack resulted in a free kick which Jack Paxman took but was well saved by Dan Wilks.
The bumper PVR crowd thought The Wings had taken the lead in the closing stages of the first half a deep Cook cross was met by Swaine who headed back across goal for Akinyemi who looked set to score but his header hit the outside of the post.
Into the second half and again Julian continued to frustrate Welling, Coombes played in Akinyemi but Julian got down well and saved with his feet.
Wings fans would have been forgiven thinking it was going to be one of those days and it was always going to take something special to beat an inspired Alan Julian. Just before the hour mark Adam Coombes produced. The ball was played out wide to Cook who delivered a great cross which Coombes met and guided a powerful header past a full stretched Julian and into the roof of the net. The relief around PVR clear to see.
Coombes almost scored a 2nd with a similar header but Ben Nunn cleared his effort off the line before Gavin McCallum shot wide.
Billericay made a double change bringing on Jamie O’Hara and Jake Robsinon and they finally created some chances. Joe Quigley had a header saved comfortably by Wilks before they almost scored an unlikely equaliser. Jake Robinson beat the offside trap but curled an effort inches wide of the post.
Julian again denied The Wings this time from Chiori Johnson. However with ten minutes to go Welling made the game safe. Bradley Goldberg burst into the penalty area, former Wings man Michael Chambers made a challenge that at first glance looked legal but referee Whitton pointed to the spot. Cook stepped up and firmly struck the penalty past Julian.
Swaine was then denied by Julian and the Billericay keeper made one final save to cap a brilliant display despite being on the losing side as he kept out an effort from Korey Henry deep into injury time.
Welling United: Wilks, Dymond, McCallum (Goldberg 79), James, Swaine, Wright, Roberts (Johnson 75), Agyemang, Akinyemi, Coombes (Henry 86), Cook. Subs not used: Krabbendam, Rolt.
Attendance 925
