In the first ever Vanarama Conference League meeting between Bristol Rovers and Welling United, the hosts enjoyed a fairly comfortable result.
There was not much to excite the fans of Bristol Rovers or Welling United early on with most opportunities coming from deal ball situations.
Andy Monkhouse nodded a free kick from Lee Mansell over then Steve Mildenhall clained a Jamal Fyfield header from a Jamie Day delivery.
Mansell fired over from thirty yards before Day clipped in a free kick that produced the only save from either goalkeeper in the first half.
Stuart Sinclair fired well wide before Matty Taylor netted when well offside.
Barney Williams made a vital tackle and clearance before the break then, at the other end, Charlie Penny’s first time shot went wide.
Two changes at half time changed the game. Nathan Blissett and Angelo Balanto came on and their introduction paid dividends.
Although the first chance of the second period was a fierce shot by Joe Healy that was pushed away by Mildenhall at full stretch, the hosts grabbed the all important first goal in the 53rd minute. Blissett worked his way down the right wing before cutting in and finishing with a deft clip inside the far post.
Any chance Welling had of getting back into the game ended when Jake Gallagher was dismissed for the second time in the season for a reckless challenge on the half way line.
Taylor was felled in the penalty area by Zach Fagan in the 72nd minute before getting up to convert himself thus ending the game as a contest.
Blissett had another effort saved as Welling could only limit the damage rather than create opportunities to get back into the match.
It will be necessary for the Wings to make a re-shuffle when the two teams meet again next Saturday as yet again suspensions will limit their options.
Bristol Rovers: Mildenhall, Brown, Lockyer, McChrystal, Parkes, Mansell, Taylor (Della-Verde 70), Gosling (Balanta 46), Monkhouse, Sinclair, Wall (Blissett 46).
Unused substitutes: Goldberg, Trotman.
Welling United: Buchel, Williams, Fyfield, Day, Fagan, Chambers, Gallagher, Corne, Penny (Hudson 80), Bassele (St. Aimie 63), Healy (Jefford 85).
Unused substitutes: Henly, Taylor.
Referee: Steven Rushton
Attendance: 5,791
Welling star player: Barney Williams
Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.