Welling United 1-1 Salisbury

Vanarama National League South football ended for Welling United with a draw against Salisbury at the J. Hearnden Skip Hire Community Stadium.

At the start of the season, Welling were one of only three founder members of the Conference South, as it was then, who hadn’t been demoted from that level at some point. The other two clubs are Newport County in Sky Bet League Two, and Eastbourne Borough, who will be participating in this season’s play-offs.

Coming into the game, the Wings were already relegated however, Salisbury were still at risk of joining them. That turned out not to be an issue for them as St Albans City were beaten heavily at Truro City, ensuring the Cornish team won the league title, and Welling’s visitors were safe.

When the match started, the Whites could not take anything for granted but knew that a point would be enough so they set up to be solid at the back whilst looking to try and nab a goal if they could. Gene Kennedy shot wide of the far post for the Wings before Josh Hedges, Owen Dore and Tom Leggett were all off target for Salisbury.

Dan Martin did well to control a difficult cross-field pass and shot first time drawing a good save out of Salisbury goalkeeper Rhys Byrne. After the visitors hadn’t made the most of a couple of half chances, Josh Redfearn shot from just outside the penalty area and Byrne stretched low to push it out and got up quickly to pounce on it before anyone could follow up.

Jez Davies then came even closer when getting on the end of TJ Bramble’s cross and seeing his header come back out off the post. Emergency loan goalkeeper Henry Blackledge made a simple save from Salisbury’s Callum Watts before the team from Wiltshire went ahead one minute before half time. Hedges was felled in the penalty area and sent Welling’s Australian goalkeeper the wrong way from the spot.

At half time, Salisbury would have discovered that St Albans were four-one down and, barring a miracle, the Whites were safe. They certainly showed no enterprise in the second period but, for most of the time, they kept Welling at arms length.

Substitute Cameron Andrews had a shot blocked and it rolled gently to Byrne. However, the Salisbury custodian was powerless to keep out the Welling equaliser. Sam Cornish did well to play it in to Redfearn and his quick feet made space for him to divert it into the bottom corner.

Kennedy’s shot fizzed beyond the far post before Davies clattered the woodwork for the fourth time in two consecutive home games with a fierce drive.

Neither side created a further chance and while the Salisbury players celebrated staying up with their fans, the Welling players applauded their supporters, ahead of an announcement of a new manager for their first ever campaign in the Isthmian League Premier Division.

Welling United: Blackledge, Bramble, Martin, Cornish, Winfield, Di Trolio, Kashket (Andrews 46), Kennedy, Redfearn (Taylor-Crossdale 73), Davies (Ballard-McBride 73), Kamara. Sub not used: Briscoe.