Tuesday night after the weekend seem to come around quicker every week, not that I’m complaining with football to watch! I had toyed with the idea of changing my game I’d chosen weeks ago for an FA Cup replay but I stayed with Welling Utd’s trip to Worthing for a number of reasons.
I had pre-arranged to meet up with quite a few people before, during and after the game so I decided to keep with the plan and armed with PNLP pod mate Gaz we’re arrived on a very sticky Sussex evening.
No breeze in place despite being not fair from the coast itself, the Rebels came into the game on the back of a heavy defeat at Braintree whilst the Wings were on a three match unbeaten run after a slow start to the season.
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Adam Hinshelwood was certainly hoping for a response from the home side, possession stats were always going to be in their favour, a team that like to get on the ball and retain it.
Chances though in the first half were at a premium, the possession high but lacking penetration, the best outlet appearing to be Baillie Smith down the right wing, although Welling got bodies back at very opportunity to keep the scores level.
The best chance of the first 45 came on the half hour mark, Juan Luque forcing Ben Winterbottom into a save, Welling certainly more happy at the half time interval with the blank scoreline.
Although it looked as if Worthing had been given the instruction to move the ball quicker across the pitch they still struggled to create anything in front of Winterbottom’s goal.
The Wings had a sight of goal on the hour mark, Roco Rees however alert to the danger despite being a bystander for a good portion of the game. Hinshelwood made a double change straight after, Ollie Pearce and Sonny Fish replacing the ineffective Luque and Greg Luer and seven minutes later the breakthrough came.
A Smith run was halted in the penalty area, up stepped Pearce to open the scoring with a confident finish. With the goal coming the game had to open up a little more and the Wings had to change gameplan, something that works better in the favour of the home side when teams come at them.
And ten minutes later the space opened up for a second Worthing goal, Smith again the architect with a powerful run to the byline, his cut back just evaded Pearce but Ricky Aguiar running onto the ball produced a sublime finish which gave Winterbottom no chance, well worth the entrance fee alone that one.
Despite Welling trying to find a way back into the match the lack of firepower didn’t really give them a shot and the home side played out the final ten minutes with very little drama and bounce back after Saturday’s result.
Welling certainly made it hard work for the Rebels and for their performance in stifling the home side they deserved something out of the game. When you’re playing well and have a good side with a consistent way of playing, it didn’t come off for Worthing really until the changes, you have to credit Welling and their game plan.
But you also have to credit the changes Adam Hinshelwood made to win the game, that turned a point into three and crucial even this early in the season, there is good depth in most positions for Hinsh to exploit.
As mentioned there were plenty of people to catch up with, Nigel Jones of Welling Utd Radio was there to regal the tales back to South London and beyond, a main ingrained in Wings history and the club, these people are the backbone of non-league football.
Danny Bloor the Welling manager has given me a few interviews over the years too, someone I hadn’t had the pleasure of meeting face to face until last night, again these guys are happy to help you and it gives them an outlet as well, Hinsh is no different I should add also.
Pete Stone is always around for a chat, Barnet for the pair of us in a couple of weeks’ time, keen to see what The Hive and the Bees are all about. And finally good to meet up with Rob Finney as well, Twitter and social media is a great place to find those passionate about non-league football and always someone willing for a chat.
