Two consecutive Vanarama National League South victories have taken Welling United five points clear of the drop zone.

However, the Wings’ manager, Rod Stringer, knows that the job is nowhere near finished yet. They have difficult away games ahead starting with a Tuesday night trip to Hampton and Richmond Borough who are in a comfortable fourth place in the table, and look destined for the play-offs.

On Saturday, Welling followed up on their stunning win at Yeovil Town by beating Weston-super-Mare, three-one. Although not at their best, they probably shaded the first half and went in at the break one-nil up through Sonny Fish’s fifth goal of the season. 

In the second half, Weston’s movement and passing put Welling on the back foot and when James Dodd levelled with just under fifteen minutes remaining, the Seagulls looked the more likely winners.

Stringer took immediate action and brought on Antony Papadopoulos and the dynamics changed. The Welling substitute put the hosts back ahead in the first minute of stoppage time and David Amoo added a third three minutes later. 

Hampton are also on good form and have won four on the spin. At home, they are strong and have won twelve, drawn three and lost just three. They are on a six match unbeaten run and won two-one at stuttering Hemel Hempstead Town on Saturday.

Alex Gibson-Hammond put them ahead on the half hour mark before Pierre Fonkou equalised before half time. Ben Seymour won it for the Beavers when converting from the spot with seventeen minutes remaining 

Stringer’s first game in charge at Welling was against the Beavers when he oversaw a come from behind victory. Dean Inman put the visitors ahead a minute after the break but Adam Roscrow levelled before Welling went down to ten men when Tristan Abrahams was dismissed.

They did not sit back, though, and Lachlan Byrd headed home the winner with twenty minutes remaining.

Last season’s game at the Beveree Stadium ended in a one-all draw with both teams scoring from the spot. Taylor Maloney converted Welling’s penalty midway through the first half. Tommy Black levelled in similar fashion three minutes after the start of the second half.

After the game with Weston on Saturday, Stringer said “Every game’s tough, there aren’t any easy ones but no-one wants to play Welling at the minute.” The Wings have lost just once in their last twelve league games and their manager wants to extend that record.

He added “Hopefully, it’s still one defeat when we finish the season. That’s what we’re aiming for. We’ll take every game as it comes and we go again on Tuesday and we’ll see where that takes us.”

Picture supplied by Dave Budden.