Having broken their hoodoo at Braintree Town last season, Welling United returned to the newly named Miles Smith Stadium and again left with three well earned points.

Leading goalscorer Harry Beautyman may have departed but it didn’t stop the Wings from gaining the win their hard work deserved.

Centre back Zach Fagan was a tower at both ends and had Welling’s first two goal efforts.

However, player manager Jamie Day was the architect of the victory, both with his deliveries and with his ability to break up play and clever use of the ball.

Jake Gallagher burst through but his shot was half blocked and the best the hosts could offer in the early part was a Chez Isaac that floated over.

Alan Massey was cautioned for bringing down the tireless Charlie Penny but Day’s curling free kick, from a similar area from which he scored last season, went over.

After the break, Aristide Bassele had a shot deflected into the hands of Nick Hamann before James Mulley missed the Iron’s best chance. Finding himself wide open from a deep cross, the ball fell kindly for him but he lashed his effort into the side netting.

Penny was again brought down by Massey and Day’s clever free kick picked out Sam Corne but the young midfielder fired over from twenty yards.

Benji Buchel was finally called upon to make a save but Charlie Strutton’s shot did not cause him too much discomfort.

After 63 minutes, Welling went ahead. Bassele’s initial shot was blocked out but Penny showed his striker’s instinct to blast the rebound into the roof of the net.

Remi Clerima pulled Penny back as he bore down on goal but escaped with a yellow card.

All three Braintree substitutes came on as they looked to lift the tempo, and Dan Sparkes tried to make the most of the fact that Joey Taylor was tiring in a promising first ever appearance in senior football.

However, Welling’s defence held firm and they might have added a second in injury time when Kieron St. Aimie tricked his way to the bye-line before pulling back for Joe Healy who fired over.

Six points in four days was just the lift Welling needed before their double header with Bristol Rovers.

 

Braintree Town: Hamann, Peters, Clerima, Massey, Habergham, Mulley (Walker 70), Paine, Isaac, Akinola (Sparks 73), Marks, Strutton (Davis 70).

Unused substitutes: Brundle, Pentney.

Welling United: Buchel, Williams, Taylor (Hudson 88), Day, Fagan, Chambers, Gallagher, Corne, Penny, Bassele (St. Aimie 90), Healy.

Unused substitutes: Henly, Johnson, Turner.

Referee: Craig Hicks

Attendance: 580

Welling star player: Jamie Day

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.