Tristan Lewis, Welling United’s Director of Football, took a squad of trialists and Academy scholars to Bedfont Sports for a pre season friendly.

Although the result wasn’t the priority, he was encouraged by the way Welling didn’t panic to run out comfortable winners.

It was a little against the run of play when the hosts went ahead in the eighth minute. Ryan Whittaker did well to beat out a shot and might have expected more from his defence who dallied allowing a striker to fire home.

Joel Nouble had two good chances for the Wings, the first of which was saved then the second went over the near.

After 22 minutes, the Eagles stunned Welling by scoring a second when a pass angled across the penalty area was bundled home at the far post.

Jerson Dos Santos, who had a spell at Margate last season, had a daisy cutter saved by the home goalkeeper before firing wide shortly after.

Cole Brown was the next player to be thwarted when he tried to slot the ball under the hosts’ custodian but he stopped it by sitting on it.

Two could have become three but Matt Kelly was alert to the danger and made a crucial goal line clearance. Lewis despaired saying “We’ve had 90% of the possession but every time they attack they look like scoring.”

Dos Santos almost reduced the arrears with a shot that clipped the bar on the way over before he was brought down in the area six minutes before the break. Former Barnet wide man Callum Phillip stepped up and drilled the spot kick into the bottom corner.

Brown headed over before Welling relaxed and the hosts had three late first half chances, the final one of which was well saved by Whittaker.

Eight minutes into the second half, Welling levelled, again from the spot. One of the four half time substitutes, Lucas Sinclair, tricked his way into the area and was tripped. This time Dos Santos took the responsibility and fired home.

Once again, Dos Santos struck the bar as Welling went for the jugular.

After Whittaker had come out quickly to rush a Bedfont player into firing over, Welling went ahead when former Fulham and Charlton Athletic player Frances Babalola took Sam Leach’s perfect pass in his stride before finishing with aplomb.

Leach was involved again when Welling made it four as Titi Babington bundled home at the far post.

Nouble then found Leach whose shot went just wide before Philip had a shot saved.

Deep into injury time Sinclair completed the scoring with a delightful finish inside the far post.

Lewis was beaming after the game as Babington, Ekeocha, Leach and Sinclair are all students at the new Welling United Academy and all gave excellent accounts of themselves.

Welling United XI:

Liam Whittaker

Ryan King – replaced by Phillip (86)

Jack Raynes – replaced by Uchenna Ekeocha (46) – replaced by Dos Santos (83)

Josh Taylor

Clyde Ondo-Ikpo – replaced by Matt Kelly (25)

Colin McGuire

Callum Phillip – replaced by Francis Babalola (46)

Matt Sinclair – replaced by Rohan Ash (63)

Joel Nouble – replaced by Lucas Sinclair (46)

Jerson Dos Santos – replaced by Sam Leach (63)

Cole Brown – replaced by Titi Babington (46) – replaced by Nouble (83)