Wings boss Warren Feeney remained upbeat as he reflected on what was a good point earned against Havant & Waterlooville at Park View Road on Saturday, despite a late goal denying his side all three points.
Welling United impressed again as Ade Azeez and Taylor Maloney twice put them ahead, only to be pegged back in the 87th minute by the 10-man Hawks, who had a man sent off in the second half as they maintain their unbeaten start to the season.
And although the Wings came so close to a fourth consecutive league victory, Feeney remained happy with his side after what was a hugely-entertaining encounter in DA16.
“It could have been more,” he said.
“They’re a good side, they’re unbeaten all season and you can see why. I thought it was a great game of football. We went toe-to-toe with each other, two honest teams and it was great for the neutrals.
“We could say we’re disappointed, but people had written us off before the game and expected us to lose it. At the end of the day, we finish the day a point better off and it was a good game between two honest teams.”
Moments before the visitors bagged their leveller through Jason Prior’s header, Stefan Payne struck the post at the other end, proving to be a turning point.
And Feeney remained pragmatic as he reflected on that opportunity as he backed his players to dust themselves off ahead of Tuesday’s meeting with Dover Athletic.
“That’s the margins of football,” he said.
“You have to concentrate for 90 minutes, but I’m not too hard on the boys. We’re on a fantastic run, we’re unbeaten in six games.
“Payney hit the post, but you’ve got to be there to miss chances. He’s been brilliant for me, another day it goes in, on this day it didn’t and we dust ourselves down.”
“Today was the way football should be played,” added Feeney.
“Two teams neck and neck, going for each other. We had a great crowd here today, over 1,000 people and they go away, yes disappointed, but we’re pleased that it was a good game of football and a good point.”
Meanwhile, Feeney commented on the late decision to disallow Chi Ezennolim’s goal in the seventh minute of injury time as he shared the officials’ explanation.
“He must have had Superman’s eyes to see that!” he said.
“What confused me was, he put the flag up for offside which is why the referee ran to him. But afterwards he said it was because the ball went out of play, so I said he did well to see that distance!
“There were a couple of things – I thought Papadapoulos could have had a penalty, it was a handball, but he’s too honest and had the shot.
“We’re picking at things, but it was about a great game of football.”
