Jamie White’s brace kept the Blue Square Bet South championship race alive as second placed Salisbury City defeated Welling United at their Ray McEnhill stadium.

Jake Reid and Kiernan Hughes-Mason had early opportunities as Welling started brightly but their game plan went awry when conceding on 19 minutes.

There looked to be little danger as White hit a meek close ranged shot towards the Welling goal but somehow normally dependable Wings’ goalkeeper Sam Mott allowed the ball to squirm through him and into the back of the net.

Welling struggled to get a foothold in midfield as Chris McPhee and Stuart Sinclair won the battles with their counterparts.

Scott Kinch flashed a volley wide but neither goalkeeper was tested for the remainder of the half notable only for the fussiness of referee Mark Pottage who decided every foul was worthy of a yellow card.

Hughes-Mason was the first name to be taken for a minor indiscretion, and Emmanuel Udoji, Fraser Franks and Barney Williams following before the break.

After fifteen uneventful second half minutes, Kurtis Guthrie replaced Reid as strike partner to Ross Lafayette.

Ben Martin was booked for conceding a free kick which was launched into the penalty area for White to flick over.

Joe Healy replaced Kinch as Salisbury prepared to take the free kick from which they doubled their lead. McPhee’s delivery found White and he showed why he is the league’s leading scorer with a finish that gave Mott no chance.

Jake Gallagher and Mott were cautioned before Welling were handed a lifeline.

Gallagher’s through ball troubled Chris Giles and his poor headed back-pass was intercepted by Guthrie and Will Puddy’s ill-timed challenge gave Mr Pottage no option other than to award a penalty and dismiss the Salisbury custodian. McPhee took the green jersey with no substitute goalkeeper on the bench and his first task was to pick Healy’s spot kick out from the back of the net.

Although six minutes and plenty of injury time remained, Welling were only able to test McPhee with crosses, deliveries with which he dealt admirably.

Salisbury’s Ryan Brett and Welling’s Lee Clarke were cautioned late on to finish the referee’s collection of one red card and nine yellow’s in a game that was never dirty.

Salisbury City: Puddy, Wilson, Udoji (Brett 46), Dutton, Clarke, Giles, McPhee, S. Sinclair, White Adameno 74), Fitchett, Wellard.

Unused substitutes: Frear, Lewis, R. Sinclair.

Welling United: Mott, Franks, Williams, Kinch (Healy 68), Martin, Acheampong, Gallagher, Clarke, Reid (Guthrie 60), Lafayette, Hughes-Mason (Fairweather-Johnson 74).

Unused substitutes: Turner, Craddock.

Referee: M. Pottage

Attendance:  1,158

Welling star player: Anthony Acheampong.