Non-League and Academy football writer

I was in attendance at Park View Road on Tuesday night, to report on Welling United’s home National League South fixture with inform Worthing FC. Welling United started the match in the relegation zone of the National League South, in 21st place. The visitors, Worthing, sat in second place in the league going into this game, ten points behind league leaders Yeovil Town. In what was an eventful game of football, a great team performance from Welling United saw them win 4-1, to bolster their chances of staying in the league for next season. A good, quick passing move during the early stages of the game, saw Worthing create the first real chance of the game. Dylan Fage passed the ball to Joe Felix on the right side of the Welling United penalty area. However, Felix’s low effort was saved well at his near post, by the feet of Reice Charles-Cook. A couple of minutes later, and after a lay off on the edge of the Worthing box, Gene Kennedy had a first time effort saved by Worthing goalkeeper Ollie Wright.

The game was being played at a good intensity, and after Sonny Fish hit a good effort over the Worthing goal from distance, a good passing move from the home side resulted in Sonny Fish hitting an effort wide (after losing his footing), from inside the Worthing box. After meeting Jack Wadham’s corner-kick at the near post of the Welling United goal, Ollie Pearce lifted an effort over the goal, before Joe Felix hit a low effort wide of the goal, a couple of minutes later from the edge of the Welling penalty area. Welling United were well organised, and they were making it difficult for Worthing to play their passing game effectively, with the home side pressing well. Not long after Reice Charles-Cook had made a superb double save, the Welling United goalkeeper made a good save to push away Ollie Pearce’s powerful free-kick effort from the edge of the Welling box. Having managed the game well during the first half, Welling United would have been delighted, after they took the lead just before half-time.

The opening goal of the match was a good one, with Anthony Grant receiving the ball on the right hand side of the Worthing penalty area. After showing some good skill on the ball, the vastly experienced Welling United player hit a powerful low effort into the bottom left hand corner of the goal, 1-0. During the early stages of the second half, and after Worthing had lost possession of the ball on the edge of their penalty area, Welling came close to doubling their lead. Jason Adigun received Sonny Fish’s pass on the edge of the Worthing box, before hitting an effort on goal which was saved well by the legs of Ollie Wright. However, the ball then came to Cam Green on the follow up, but his effort was also well kept out by Wright. Ollie Pearce headed a difficult chance wide of the Welling goal, a couple of minutes later, and then Danny Cashman hit an effort wide of the goal from around 20 yards out. After the impressive Sonny Fish had hit an effort over the Worthing goal from the edge of their penalty area, Worthing had a good chance of equalising in the game. However, following a Worthing corner-kick, the ball came to Ollie Starkey inside the Welling box, but the Worthing players’ powerful effort went just wide of the goal.

Following a good, fast move from the home side, it was Welling United who would get the second goal of the game. Crossley Lema found Reece Grant in the centre of the Worthing box, and he would clinically finish into the goal, with a first time effort, 2-0. The game was continuing to be played at a really good intensity. After Welling United captain Anthony Grant hit an effort over the Worthing goal from the edge of their penalty area, Worthing would go forward with the ball. Eventually they were awarded a way back into the game, after Reice Charles-Cook had, in the eyes of the referee, fouled Joe Felix, after punching the ball clear, a penalty was awarded for the visiting side. Ollie Pearce stepped-up to find the bottom left corner of the goal, despite Charles-Cook making contact with the ball, to score his 33rd league goal of the season, 2-1. Danny Cashman had two efforts on the Welling goal saved in quick succession by Charles-Cook, before, at the other end of the pitch, Sonny Fish had hit an effort wide of the Worthing goal, from the right side of their box.

After Anthony Grant was shown his second yellow card of the game on 84 minutes, for a challenge on Ollie Pearce, Welling United would have to play the remainder of the game with ten men. The excellent Reice Charles-Cook continued to impress, firstly to save a good header at his near post from a corner-kick, and then secondly to save Ollie Pearce’s good free-kick effort on goal. Following a really good forward run from Jason Adigun, the Welling player passed the ball to Sonny Fish inside the Worthing box, but his effort was well saved by Ollie Wright. And then, after Reice Charles-Cook had saved Danny Cashman’s fine effort on goal, Welling United finished the game in extraordinary fashion. This was a tireless performance from Welling, and it was after Sonny Fish had been given the ball on the left flank, which really summed up the brilliance of the home side’s performance. Sonny Fish went on an excellent surging forward run, into the Worthing penalty area, before finishing well, past Wright, 3-1. And in the 90+11th minute of second half additional time, Sonny Fish confirmed the win for Welling United.

Jason Adigun had played a through-ball pass in behind a Worthing defender in their half of the pitch, with Sonny Fish showing some really good pace and determination to get onto the ball. The Crawley Town player, who is on loan at Welling United, would once again take the ball into the penalty area, before showing great composure to finish past Ollie Wright, once again, 4-1. This was an outstanding team performance to win 4-1 against arguably the best footballing side, and one of the very best teams in the league, in Worthing. The effort that the whole team put in, and their work off the ball was really good. Sonny Fish, with a brace of goals, was my player of the match. The 20 year old impressed greatly throughout the match, getting into some good goalscoring positions, and also impressing with his skill and pace. However, the talented player also took both of his goals superbly well. Reice Charles-Cook was excellent in the Welling United goal, making some stunning saves, and also, Charlton Athletic loanee Jason Adigun had a really good game for Welling United. I think that Welling United, if they play like they did on Wednesday, will stay up this season. And I also think, that Worthing will go up via the play-offs.