Despite their ideal start, Welling United fell to their fifth consecutive defeat when visiting Dorking Wanderers.

In a sometimes heated match, Welling went ahead in the first thirty seconds but it only took the hosts four minutes to level after which, they rarely looked troubled.  

Wings’ manager Peter Taylor made the surprise decision of leaving out Bradley Pearce, moving Olu Durojaiye to centre back, and giving a full league debut to Yannis Drais.

Their dream start came when Kristian Campbell got to the bye-line and pulled it back for Tom Derry to slot home for his first Welling goal.

However, in the fourth minute, Dorking levelled. A cross was headed out and Niall McManus met it with a twenty-five yard volley that flew into the top corner.

Alfie Rutherford had a shot saved comfortably by Jack Sims before he headed a McManus cross back across goal but Jason Prior was unable to nod it home. He then fired wide from outside the area.

Bobby-Joe Taylor shot through a sea of legs but it went wide before Rutherford thought that he had scored when heading home only to be alerted to an assistant referee’s raised flag for offside.

Taylor went on a long run but seemed to run out of steam as he shot tamely at Sims and the Welling goalkeeper was again called into action when charging out to foil Rutherford as he burst through.  

As half time approached, Welling strung together a good passing move which involved nearly every one of their outfield players but they couldn’t score a potential goal of the seasons as goalkeeper Josh Wilson was out smartly to clear from Danny Parish.

Neither manager took their place in the dugout after the break and it transpired that there was an altercation in the tunnel as they left the field at half time with the referee showing both a red card.

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Early in the second period, Sims saved from Josh Taylor before Matt Briggs’ poked shot was deflected wide.

Just shy of the hour mark, the Wanderers broke the deadlock. A near post corner was met by the head of Barry Fuller and it somehow found the roof of the net. Prior hit the post soon after but Welling made a triple change and suddenly became a threat.

Wilson made a hash of a Mason Saunders-Henry cross and it fell to Dipo Akinyemi whose first time shot came out off the post. Akinyemi then won a loose ball well and chipped just over.

A double change by the hosts then helped them to nullify the threat and Sims, with his right boot, did well to keep out Briggs’ shot before he reacted well to block a Jordan Cheadle shot that took a deflection.

Two minutes into the additional three, Dorking ensured victory by adding a third. Welling gave the ball away and it was played out quickly to James McShane. The flag stayed down and he strode away before squaring for Rutherford to finish.     

Akinyemi had a shot saved but it wouldn’t have made much of a difference had he scored as the final whistle was blown shortly afterwards. 

Dorking Wanderers: Wilson, McManus, B-J Taylor (Cheadle 74), J. Taylor, Harris (Gallagher 25), Fuller, Briggs, Oldaker, Prior (Wheeler 74), Rutherford, McShane.

Subs not used: Philpot, Moore, Gallagher. 

Goalscorers: McManus (4), Fuller (60), Rutherford (90+)

Yellow cards: Fuller, Briggs

Red card: Marc White 

Welling United: Sims, Barnes (Krabbendam 67), Campbell, Statham, Durojaiye, Penney, Muscatt, Shokunbi, Derry (Akinyemi 67), Parish (Saunders-Henry 67), Drais.

Subs not used: Ezennolim, Stevenson.

Goalscorers: Derry (1)

Yellow cards: Campbell, Frais

Red card: Peter Taylor

Referee: Alex Blake

Assistants: James Welch and Craig Simpson

Attendance: 1,035

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.