10 men Welling United stumbled to a home defeat at the hands of AFC Halifax, presenting the Shaymen with only their third win on the road this season.

Expectancy and hope have risen for Welling this season having already passed the 50 point mark, but manager Jamie Day’s regular warning of not to expect too much this season proved to have merit. He was only able to name four substitutes, and the squad will be further stretched following injury to Connor McLaren and a suspension for Blaine Hudson.

Welling started sharply and came close in the first minute with Tobi Sho-Silva heading just over.

McLaren suffered a bad looking injury in the 12^th minute and before Welling could bring on a substitute, Matty Pearson hit a snap-shot wide. Sadly for Welling, the full back was carried off on a stretcher to be replaced by Harry Cornick.

Toby Ajala and Lee Clarke both had shots saved before Marc Roberts headed over for the visitors.

Loui Fazakerley was cautioned for a foul that allowed Welling to regroup after their defence had been opened up. Paul Marshall’s free-kick lacked the venom to bother Jamie Turner.

Cornick drew another save from Matt Glennon but the Shaymen had the best of the latter part of the first half.

Simon Ainge had a header claimed by Turner, Lee Gregory shot wide of the near post and Roberts saw his header from a corner rattle the bar.

Ajala and Sho-Silva combined early in the second period but the latter was unable to head down the high cross.

The only goal came in the 50^th minute when Gregory was hauled down by Hudson in the six yard box as he was about to finish. Hudson was dismissed while Gregory placed the ball on the spot and the Halifax leading goal-scorer converted by placing his conversion straight down the middle.

Harry Beautyman then had a shot brilliantly saved by Glennon and Joe Healy’s follow up was blocked away for a corner.Then Alfie Mawson’s deflected free kick was turned away by Glennon.

Lois Maynard missed a good chance for Halifax then Gregory’s shot had the sting taken out of it by a deflection allowing Turner a simple save. Ryan Crowther then shot well wide having created his own opening.

Halifax almost killed the game off in the closing minutes when Marlon Jackson was foiled by a brilliant save by Turner. Although the ball came loose, it just evaded Gregory at the far post.

Jackson then ensured the victory for AFC Halifax by making a crucial last ditch tackle on Loui Fazakerley deep into injury time.

 

Welling United: Butcher, Fazakerley, McLaren (Cornick 13), Wakefield, Hudson, Mawson, Beautyman, Clarke, Ajala, Sho-Silva, Healy.

Unused substitutes: Karagiannis, Butcher, Day.

AFC Halifax: Glennon, McManus, Pearson (Johnson 90), Smith (Jackson 70), Gregory, Roberts, Marshall, Maynard, Ainge, Crowther, Bolton.

Unused substitutes: Lowe, Senior, McReady.

Referee: Dean Treleaven

Attendance: 645

Welling star man: Tobi Sho-Silva

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.