Defeat at Dorking Wanderers ended Welling United’s two game winning run.

Rod Stringer’s Wings were hoping for a third win in eight days, and it wasn’t through a lack of effort or work-rate that they didn’t get anything but, on the day, it wasn’t to be.

Jack Young had the first goal attempt for the hosts with a shot that dribbled wide before Dave Winfield headed out a corner into the path of Jason Prior whose first time shot was saved brilliantly by Rhys Lovett.

Gene Kennedy went on a powerful run down the left for Welling and pulled it back for Chiori Johnson whose first time effort clipped the bar on the way over. That turned out to be a defining moment as the hosts scored almost immediately. As Welling expected an offside flag to be raised, confusion between captain Dave Winfield and goalkeeper Rhys Lovett gave Jason Prior the opportunity to square and Alfie Rutherford bundled it home.

Max Statham sent in a cross for TJ Bramble but it came in at a height that was too low to head and too high to volley so he could only guide it towards the far post, however it still drew a good save out of Harrison Foulkes. Elliot Long then cut in and shot and Foulkes was again called upon to make a low save.

Another key moment followed when Prior headed across and Rutherford battered Lovett. Although the hosts netted, the whistle had already gone for the foul, and to allow both players to receive treatment.

After a lengthy break, neither were able to continue. That was a bigger problem for Welling as they didn’t have a goalkeeper on the substitute’s bench so TJ Bramble took the goalkeeping jersey and Garrett Kelly came on to take his position in midfield. Dorking had no such issues and made a like for like replacement with Theo Alexandrou coming on.

In the eleven minutes of stoppage time a deep cross by Joshua Brooking picked out Prior whose close range volley flew wide of the far post before the first half came to an end.

Early in the second half, Bramble saved a shot from Jimmy Muitt by sticking out his left leg, and he repeated the trick shortly afterwards when kicking Brooking’s shot off the line.

Anointed Chukwu then chased a long pass but an abnormal bounce meant that he couldn’t keep it down and it flew over.

Twelve minutes remained when Dorking added a second. Alexandriou controlled it on his chest, flicked it over Johnson and hit his volley into the top corner.

Bramble again used his left foot to good effect when clearing another Brooking shot before Welling pulled one back with six minutes remaining. Foulkes picked up a back pass and an indirect free kick was awarded. Gene Kennedy passed to Chukwu on the edge of the penalty area and his drive was diverted home by Johnson.

Charlie Pegrum fired over for Welling before Prior headed wide from a deep Niall McManus cross.

One last opportunity fell to Chukwu, but Foulkes saved and Welling had to go home empty handed.

Stringer now has to get to work on finding a replacement goalkeeper as Lovett is likely to have to miss a week or two.

Dorking Wanderers: Foulkes, Muitt (Briggs 68), Norville-William (Bowerman 61), McManus, Craig, Brooking, Milsom, Gallagher, Prior, Rutherford (Alexandrou 41), Young. Subs not used: Camp, Taylor.

Goalscorers: Rutherford (17), Alexandrou (78)

Yellow card: Muitt, Brooking.

Welling United: Lovett (Kelly 44 (Redfearn 68)), Johnson, Martin (Osew 79), Statham, Winfield, Lankshear, Cornish, Kennedy, Chukwu, Long (Pegrum 79), Bramble. Sub not used: Donkor.

Goalscorers: None

Yellow cards: None

Referee: Morgan Conn

Assistants: Tola Sangowawa and Callum Peter

Fourth Official: Daniel Austin

Attendance: 1,466

Images courtesy of Dave Budden