Only two matches survived the severe March weather and Welling took full advantage of the long trip to Cornwall by beating bottom club Truro City and extending their lead at the top of the Blue Square Bet South to nine points.

Both teams had early opportunities. Jamie Day hit a free kick into the side netting for Welling and Andy Watkins drew a save from Jamie Turner before the visitors took the lead.

Jake Gallagher threaded through a perfect pass for Theo Fairweather-Johnson to fire past Luke Payne in the Truro goal.

Truro had a great chance to equalise when the ball broke kindly for Watkins but his effort came back off the inside of the post and Ben Martin cleared.

They had another opportunity soon after, but having escaped his marker, Paul Kendall headed over from close range.

Having weathered the storm, Welling took command and Jake Reid was only denied by the ball skimming off the top of Ben Gerring’s head as the Welling striker thought he was in from Fairweather-Johnson’s cross.

In the 41^st minute Welling added a second. Lee Clarke hit a cross shot that Payne could only palm out as far as Ross Lafayette, and the Welling talisman lashed it into the back of the net.

Fairweather-Johnson netted again before half time when latching onto Fraser Franks’ pass but play was pulled back for an offside flag.

Welling put the game beyond doubt in the 66^th minute when Clarke’s pass found Anthony Acheampong who turned Cody Cooke before being brought down in the penalty area. Lafayette stepped up and hit his spot kick with enough power to beat Payne.

A flare up between Jake Ash and Gallagher resulted in both being cautioned before Cooke missed the chance to atone for his earlier indiscretion when he headed wide from Watkins’ cross.

Barry Hayles and Jordan Copp found their way into referee Christopher Powell’s notebook as Welling made changes to their personnel.

One of the substitutes, Kiernan Hughes-Mason, played in Jack Obersteller who struck his shot into the legs of Payne and another, Scott Kinch, came close in injury time when his volley flashed wide of the far post.

 

Truro City: Payne, Hodges, Watts (Wright 51), Gerring, Kendall, Ash, Cooke, Copp, Hayles (Yetton 86), Watkins, Afful.

Unused substitutes: Williams, Broad.

Welling United: Turner, Franks, Obersteller, Day, Martin, Acheampong, Gallagher (Kinch 73), Clarke, Reid, Lafayette (Guthrie 77), Fairweather-Johnson (Hughes-Mason 71).

Unused substitutes: Fakinos, Main.

Referee: Christopher Powell

Attendance: 448

Welling star man: Theo Fairweather-Johnson