Welling United earned a point on the road from a goalless draw at Hornchurch on Bank Holiday Monday.
The two sides played out a closely-contested first half without giving much away in terms of clear-cut chances.
Urchins striker Femi Akinwande saw an initial shot well blocked by Dave Winfield, before his follow-up was batted away by Rhys Lovett in the Welling goal, before Elliot Long spun his man and fired over from 22 yards at the other end shortly after.
And just after the half-hour mark, the Wings came close when Winfield’s dangerous header across the face of goal was very nearly turned in by Jack Burchell at the far post, but he was just beaten to it by a blue and white shirt.
The visitors did have the ball in the net in the 33rd minute through Martell Taylor-Crossdale, but the forward was denied by the offside flag from Long’s initial through-ball.
Long was involved again before the break when his low, curling effort was tipped around the post by Hornchurch stopper Mason Terry, while Charliie Adams fired just wide twice in quick succession late in the half.
In truth, though, 0-0 was a fair reflection of the balance of play going into half-time.
Indeed, the second half continued in much the same vein with both sides labouring in the Bank Holiday heat.
Sean Scannell tried his luck with a blistering effort which whistled just over the bar when a corner was cleared as far as the former Crystal Palace man on the edge of the box, while Gene Kennedy’s cross/shot could not find it’s way in for Welling shortly after as the ball skidded agonisingly across the face of goal.
As the game entered the final 15 minutes, the play began to stretch somewhat with the ball moving from end to end and, in the latter stages, it was the Wings who started to look more likely.
A big chance came and went with four minutes left on the clock – great work from Chiori Johnson saw the wide man put in a brilliant cross from the right for sub Reece Grant who was in a great position in the box. But he could only head wide from close range.
Despite a late spell of pressure, Welling could not muster up a winner and they would have to settle for a point in East London.
Attention will now turn to Saturday as the Wings take on another newly-promoted side in Chesham United at Park View Road.
Hornchurch: Terry, Barnum-Bobb, Green, Bertram-Cooper, Scott, Adams, Wraight, Balanta, Akinwande (McQueen 68), Nash, Scannell.
Subs (not used): Saunders, Christou, Harvest, Alemanji.
Booked: Bertram-Cooper 54 (foul)
Welling United: Lovett, Johnson, Burchell, Winfield, Wells, Martin, A Grant (Cornish 74), Kennedy, Long (Bramble 57), Chukwu (R Grant 68), Taylor-Crossdale.
Subs (not used): Borg, Mensah.
Booked: Johnson 42 (foul on Akinwande)
Referee: Isaac Searle
Att: TBC
(Photo: Dave Budden)
