Welling United 2 v Worthing 4

El scorchio at PVR yesterday. The sun blazed down on new-look Welling but it was the visitors who took all the attention.

After years of stagnation and an endless player merry-go-round, owner Mark Goldberg has decided to make some big changes. First, he has stepped back from micro-management of the club (and team?) and appointed Paul Whitehead, local businessman as CEO. Goldberg has been obsessed with redeveloping the ground in recent years and I believe he is going to concentrate on that going forward. In the meantime, Whitehead has been busy shaking things up. 

Manager Warren Feeney had his contract extended and has been supported with 19 new players arriving and whilst it's early days, the quality of the squad has certainly been improved. 

A scaffold cover has been built behind the home-end goal and the hospitality area behind the main stand has been extended into the car park which now boasts a large marquee extension to the Wings Bar. The only disappointment yesterday was the club don't yet have a drinks licence for it so it only provided shelter yesterday from the laser beams. 

The Danson Park End has been closed and will be ripped up and replaced with a new terrace later this season. There is also talk of a big screen but I will believe that when I see it.

I was surprised by the Bookies odds pre-match. Welling were nearly 3-1 at home with the visitors warm favourites. Worthing were promoted last season so I thought the Wings might catch them on the hop with their much improved squad. However, it was clear from the opening five minutes just why the big money was on the visitors. They really took the game to Welling and played some impressive, fast and incisive football. Standout Lewis White opened the scoring early after skating in from the wing to intercept a through ball from the right, beating the last defender as he did so and drilling it beyond Myles Roberts. 

Worthing continued to dominate but it was Welling who scored next with their first attack when ex-Addick Ade Azeez was played in to score in front of the 100+ Worthing following. We were standing with them and were treated to a non-stop drum-beating sing-a-long with some very novel songs. They sing about winning non-league's beer-of-the-year in 2006 and every other song is about their big rivals - Bognor FC! 

It wasn't long before Worthing scored again and they added a third before the break. Welling were a little flattered when Azeez pulled another one back after only the Wings second meaningful attack just before half-time. 

It was little surprise when Worthing added the killer fourth after the break though and they easily saw the game out after that. They were ably marshalled by Aaron Racine at the back and are playing like a well-drilled team who have just won promotion. I am sure there is much more to come from Welling and look forward to getting over there again soon.