First Team
National League South Sat 23 November Arbour Park
Slough Town
2
Welling Utd
3
2-3

Welling United claimed all three points with a 3-2 victory at Slough Town on Saturday afternoon.

After racing into a three-goal lead thanks to the goals of Josh Redfearn, Gene Kennedy and Chiori Johnson, the Wings were made to sweat for their win with the hosts pulling two goals back with plenty of time to spare.

But an excellent defensive performance, coupled with some expert game management saw them walk away with victory.

Welling had much the better of the first half, coping well with the wet and windy conditions in Berkshire.

After Francis Amartey had hit the side-netting for the hosts early on, the Londoners kicked into gear and took a deserved lead on 19 minutes thanks to the lively Redfearn, who struck a brilliant finish into the bottom left-hand corner from just inside the box for his first goal in English football since his move from Australian football on what was his first start for the club.

The Wings continued to impress and doubled their lead shortly after the half-hour mark in similar fashion to the first.

After some good build-up play, Kennedy’s initial shot just outside the box was well blocked, but the follow-up fell nicely for him to rifle it into the bottom left-hand corner.

The returning Rhys Lovett had been missed between the sticks in recent weeks and he showed just why with two fine saves towards the end of the half, denying a pair of headers from Leon Chambers-Parillon and Dan Bayliss.

Six minutes into the second half, Welling found themselves in dreamland as they added a third.

Kennedy spotted Johnson in space to his right and the wide man took a touch to take the ball into the box and finish calmly to put the Wings in full control.

Slough, however, would not be deterred and they seemed to spring into life when three goals down. Indeed, they would make things far from comfortable for the visitors despite their advantage.

On 59 minutes, they pulled back their first with Slavi Spasov reducing Slough’s arrears to two for Slough, before Sam Evans scored a second to really make the Wings sweat.

From there, Welling were under pressure from a Slough onslaught and they were going to be made to work for their points.

Frances Amartey missed a pair of good opportunities, firing over from close range, before shooting wide from a good position, but as the clock began to tick towards 90, the Wings began to manage the game brilliantly in order to preserve their now-slender lead.

That game management left Rebels defender Dan Bayliss particularly frustrated and, in the fifth minute of time added on, he was shown a straight red card after appearing to stamp on the floored Garrett Kelly.

There would be plenty of tired legs in red come the final whistle and Welling could head back towards south London with three very well-earned points in tow, putting an end to a run of four league outings without victory.

They will now look to build on the victory in Berkshire as they host Tonbridge Angels at Park View Road on Tuesday evening.

Slough Town: Horlock, Jackman, Bayliss, Prosper, Spasov, Gilbert, Amartey (Abisogun 74), Chambers-Parillon, Davies, Ochieng (Roth 83), Ogbonna (Evans 54).

Subs (not used): Spicer, Hay.

Booked: Ochieng 65 (foul on Johnson), Bayliss 84 (foul on Johnson)

Sent off: Bayliss 90+5 (violent conduct)

Goal: Spasov 59, Evans 67

Welling United: Lovett, Johnson, Burchell, Perkins, Lankshear, Osew, Cornish (Grant 81), Kelly, Kennedy (Wells 85), Redfearn (Chukwu 65).

Subs (not used): Long, Taylor-Crossdale.

Booked: Johnson 38 (foul), Cornish 41 (foul), Kennedy 57 (foul), Lovett 79 (time wasting), Chukwu 86 (kicking ball away), Kelly 88 (foul)

Goals: Redfearn 19, Kennedy 33, Johnson 51

Referee: Lisa Benn

Att: 805