Woking 1-0 Welling United

Welling United fell just short in their quest for promotion as they were defeated at Woking by the finest of margins. Woking have proved somewhat of a Nemesis to Welling this year, with The Wings unable to beat The Cards in 4 games this season indeed without even scoring a goal at Kingfield.

Not overawed by the crowd just shy of 5,000 and roared on by over 800 Welling fans, The Wings started well with Bradley Goldberg curling an effort over.

Danny Mills then hit an effort into the side netting as Welling continued to push forward.

Jordan Gibbons cleared a dangerous attack as Woking had their first chance at goal, but soon after Welling had a glorious chance.

Brendan Kiernan did well to tee a cross into the box, it just evaded Thierry Audel but fell perfectly for Gavin McCallum who took a touch but swiped his left foot effort wide of the post and into the side netting.

Woking has a good chance when Moussa Diarra flicked a Max Kretzschmar free kick just wide. Welling though were looking the stronger side and came within inches of taking the lead. Mills flicked the ball onto Bradley Goldberg who drove at the Woking defence before hitting a low effort that beat Craig Ross but not the post and rebounded off the post and into the arms of the lucky keeper.

This let off seemed to wake the home side up and a defence splitting ball from Reise Allassani set up Little but Hill was back in time to clear the effort. However Woking took the lead in the 41st minute. Thierry Audel made a rash tackle on the edge of the area and this allowed free kick specialist Armani Little to curl a free kick past the wall and beyond the fingers tips of Wilks.

This meant Welling had to chase the game in the 2nd half and allowed Woking to sit back as they looked to hit Welling on the counter attack. Jake Hyde beat the offside trap with just Wilks to beat but the Welling stopper made a great save with his legs to deny the Woking man.

Woking were looking the more likely team to add to their tally as Reise Allassani shot into the side netting having wriggled free.

Nassim L’Ghoul was introduced into the action and he had a big shout for a penalty waved away. Running into the Woking penalty area he slipped only to get straight back up to be seemingly clipped by Jack Cook. However his appeals were waved away. Kiernan then produced a cross that picked out Mills but he headed over.

Josh Hill hit an effort that was seemingly going in only for Ben Gerring to make a brave block.

With time ticking down Danny Mills burst through the Woking defence but Ross was equal to it and pushed his effort away.

Allassani fired over from a tight angle as Woking went in search of the clincher.

Anau then saw a shot blocked for a corner as a resolute Woking defence stood firm. Hyde broke down the right hand side but Wilks was again equal to it and pushed his effort away.

With the game into injury one last corner from Welling was cleared and the whistle went to bring the curtain down on Welling’s hopes of promotion but it was a season that Steve King and his players can look back on with immense pride even if it is tinged with what might have been.

Welling United: Wilks, Gibbons, Braham-Barrett, Mendy (Anau 64), Hill, Audel, Kiernan, Ijaha, Mills, Goldberg (Bettamer 71), McCallum (L’Ghoul 64). Subs not used: Hajizadeh, Orlu.

Attendance 4,865 (809 Welling fans)