Performances can be better, admits Pennock - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Sunday 10th September 2006

Welling United boss Adrian Pennock was pleased that his side remained patient to come from behind to defeat Braintree Town in an eventful game at Park View Road yesterday, writes Stephen McCartney.

After losing on the road to Farnborough Town and Salisbury City recently, goals from Danny Kedwell (2), and substitutes Martin Carthy and Ronayne Benjamin helped the Wings to a 4-1 victory, in a game where three players saw red.

The Essex side took a deserved lead after just nine minutes when Robbie Martin stepped up to curl a free kick from the edge of the box past goalkeeper Jamie Turner.

Braintree’s Louis Riddle, meanwhile, had been tussling with Steve Perkins throughout, having earlier been shown a yellow card for a late challenge on the Wings midfielder.

But four minutes before the break Riddle was shown a second yellow for a second late foul on Perkins.

However, this wouldn’t be the last time that Perkins was involved in controversy, as he would also see red along with Iron’s skipper Bradley Quinton.

Perkins’ late challenge on Andy Porter was adjudged worthy of a red card before Quinton was sent packing for his involvement in the resulting scuffle.

“It was a very eventful game,” Pennock told www.kentishfootball.co.uk today. “It was a difficult game for the officials but I thought all in all they done well.

“But my main concern was the team and the three points. I’m very pleased with the three points,” he said.

But with his side a goal down at the break, Pennock asked his troops to remain patient. And they listened to his instructions as their four goals came in the last twenty minutes of the match.

“The most important thing I said to the boys was to be patient,” he revealed. “We knew they would put men behind the ball so I told them to use width a bit more.

“We were patient and we got the breaks when we needed them.”

The Wings travel down to Eastbourne Borough, a side undefeated at home, on Tuesday night, before welcoming “bogey side” Sutton United to Park View Road next Saturday.

“The players at Eastbourne are very good players,” warned Pennock. “They’ve got a new squad this year, they’re very strong and it will be a very difficult game for us, but if we can get a result I’ll be very pleased.

The east Sussex side are seventh in the Nationwide Conference South table, just one point better off than tenth placed Welling.

And a win at Priory Lane will give the Wings confidence going into their clash against rivals Sutton United.

“We’ve played Sutton last year and I think they’re our bogey side,” said Pennock.

“We drew at home when we should have scored a lot of goals, it was very one sided, and we lost away. It’s always difficult to play against Sutton.”

But the Wings have a 50% record from their first eight league outings, and Pennock assessed their campaign to date.

He said: “I think if we can look back, and say the games you lose you want to win, but I’ve been generally pleased.

“The performances haven’t been brilliant, can be better, but they’re aren’t any easy games in any league. Teams have made it difficult.

“We’ve got a young squad this year and they have to learn very quickly.”

Pennock’s only injury concerns at present are Andrew Sam (ankle) and Che Stadhart (back), although the former Margate striker could feature on Tuesday night if he responds to treatment on the eve of the game.

Gravesend & Northfleet, meanwhile, are eighth in the Nationwide Conference table, after picking up a point at their bogey side Halifax Town.

Star striker Charlie MacDonald netted his sixth goal of the season early on, as the Fleet stretched their unbeaten run to four games.

But Fleet boss Liam Daish, 37, was disappointed his side were not able to captalise on the many chances they created in a first half which they almost completely dominated.

He told the Non League Paper: “If it had been a boxing match, then the referee would have stopped it at half time.

“We had so many chances and I cannot believe that we only managed to convert one.

“But you have to work hard to get a result at a place like this, so I am pleased with the point.”

But the Fleet boss is taking advantage of being a full time outfit.

“The biggest difference for us is going full time,” he said. “You have got to be athletes to compete in this division and whereas we were only training three days a week last season, we are now doing five.

“We also had a clear out over the summer and, no disrespect to the players who were here last season, but we have been able to bring in a lot of new faces who really know how to play good football.”

The Fleet welcome second placed side Grays Athletic to Stonebridge Road on Tuesday night.

Their riverside neighbours thumped Southport yesterday with star strikers Aaron McLean and Michael Kightly grabbing two goals apiece.

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www.wellingunited.com

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