County were forced to reshuffle the back four with Damon Searle and Ian Hillier both flu victims; Shane Brewer and Stewart Edwards started alongside John Brough and Steve Jenkins. New signing Charlie Griffin took his seat on the bench and there was a welcome return for captain John Brough.   

The first half was a war of attrition with both defences containing the two front lines until a goal burst in the closing minutes. The County defence were hesitant in intercepting a long downfield free kick from Mark Goodfellow two minutes before the interval and Martin Carthy pounced on the loose ball to coolly lob the stranded Mark Ovendale. Within a minute County were level. The much travelled Holdsworth was first to meet Jason Bowen’s in-swinging corner and glanced his header past the host of defenders stood on the line and inside the far post netting.   

The second half was full of entertainment. John Brough made a clever early run to glance Bowen’s corner goalward only to be foiled by the out-stretched hand of David Wilkinson. Steve Harper broke clear of the home defence and rounded Ovendale and hit the foot of the post from a tight angle. The ball deflected straight to Che Stadhart who with the goal wide open lost his footing and failed to take advantage. Jason Bowen's spectacular flying header was fractionally wide of the target at the other end as County pressed for the crucial third goal.  

County dominated the later stages and eventually got the breakthrough their persistent and enterprising attacking play deserved with only four minutes left. Shane Brewer set Richard Evans free on the left and from his bye-line cross debutant Charlie Griffin cleverly back heeled the ball into the path of Jason Bowen who slide home from close range.

Dean Holdsworth put the result beyond doubt two minutes later with a masterful goal. With passing options available either side Holdsworth decided to go for goal from 25 yards out. The former Premiership player curled a sublime goal shot past Wilkinson to cap a fine individual performance.        

With the promotion contenders having mixed fortunes today County must capitalise on this win with victory at Yeading next Saturday.

Line Ups:

County: Ovendale, S Jenkins, S Brewer, Davies, Brough (C), Edwards, Bowen, Garner,  Holdsworth,  Hughes (Griffin 74), Evans Subs Not Used: Prosser,  Collier, O’Sullivan, Giles 

Welling: Wilkinson, Goodfellow, Solomon, Perkins (Boateng 10), Moore, Carthy (Sam 59), Green, Carpenter, Stadhart, Harper (D Kedwell 59), Day (C) Subs Not Used: Rowland, S Kedwell

Scorers:

County: Dean Holdsworth (44 and 88) and Jason Bowen (86)

Welling: Martin Carthy (43)

Cautions:

County: Garner (dissent) and Davies (foul)

Welling: Solomon (foul) and Goodfellow (foul)

Officials:

Referee: Ian Hamilton (Cheltenham) 

Assistants: Richard Corp (Frome) and Mark Pottage (Wincanton) 

Attendance:

756

Conditions:

Cold, overcast, heavy pitch

Man of the Match:

Official County Man of the Match: Richard Evans

Reporter's County Man of the Match: Dean Holdsworth

Reporter's Welling Man of the Match: Jamie Day

Match Rating: