Welling United extended their lead to eleven points at the top of the Blue Square Bet South with a comfortable victory over Eastbourne Borough.

Playing with a strong wind behind them, Welling dominated the first half with full backs Fraser Franks and Barney Williams, replacing the injured Jack Obersteller, getting forward at every opportunity.

Matt Aldred should have been dismissed for a vicious foul on Ross Lafayette as Eastbourne struggled to cope with Welling’s movement.

Jake Reid and Franks both stretched Sports’ goalkeeper Danny Potter but he was powerless to stop Welling’s opener. Lafayette crossed from the left and as Scott Kinch was pulled back, the ball struck him on the back of the head and crossed the line via the post.

Theo Fairweather-Johnson failed to hit the target as he burst through and the hosts’ only attempt on target in the first period was a long Georges Ehui free kick that Sam Mott tipped over easily.

Despite having to play into the wind after the break Welling continued to cause problems and Kinch headed a Franks cross wide before Welling doubled their lead.

Again, Franks caused problems with a corner and although Sam Cole handled on the line, the ball was over it before Lafayette lashed it into the back of the net.

Inevitably, Eastbourne came back into the game needing points to pull clear of the drop zone. Ehui shot wide and Frankie Raymond over, but they failed to test Mott with shots on goal.

Substitute Kiernan Hughes-Mason added a third for Welling in the 79^th minute. He broke away leaving the Eastbourne defence in his wake before finishing with a low shot that gave Potter no chance.

Giannoulis Fakinos and Kurtis Guthrie combined well to give the latter a shooting option that Potter saved then Guthrie’s trickery gave him a further opportunity but he was unable to get his shot on target with the angle against him.

Mott was finally called upon to make a save from Gary Hart in injury time before Ben Martin got himself sent off for a final minute indiscretion.

Eastbourne Borough: Potter, Adelsbury, Cole, Ehui (Lok 73), Rowe, Watts, Johnson, Aldred, Jonte Smith (Elliott 55), Hart, Raymond (Jamie Smith 65). Unused substitutes: Shephard, Uddin.

Welling United: Mott, Franks, Williams, Kinch (Fakinos 77), Martin, Acheampong, Gallagher, Clarke, Reid (Guthrie 61), Lafayette, Fairweather-Johnson (Hughes-Mason 68). Unused substitutes: Craddock, Turner.

Referee: I. Cooper

Attendance: 631

Welling star player: Barney Williams.