An early defensive indiscipline was enough to ensure that Welling United’s unbeaten run was ended at home to Hampton and Richmond Borough.

They conceded in just the fifth minute and didn’t work Sam Howes enough to deserve a point. Other than from dead ball situations, they did not look like scoring and the result left them only above the relegation zone on goal difference.

Virtually all their chances were created from dead ball deliveries sent over by Jack Jebb and Christian Nanetti but none were converted an Welling’s unbeaten run came to an end.

What made it worse was that the goal Welling conceded was from a poorly defended free kick. Whether the foul was by Jamie Coyle or on him when he clashed with Malachi Napa was debatable.

That mattered little, however, as Welling failed to set up properly and Ryan Moss scored with a free kick after Josh Casey’s free kick was knocked on to him.

Harry Phipps should have equalised when his header from Jack Jebb’s corner hit Hampton goalkeeper Sam Howes and Casey hacked away off the line.

Jebb sent over a free kick that Phipps met but his header was pushed away by a diving Howes but the visitors came close soon after when Dillon Barnes saved from Casey and rebounded off Moss who was offside.

Charlie Wessmer had a header cleared off the line from a corner before Bradley Goldberg’s crisp finish from Phipps’ through ball was disallowed for offside.

After the interval, Hampton should have made it two when Moss missed Max Kretzscchmar’s cross leaving Harry Crawford free at the far post but the former Wing was unable to convert.

Christian Nanetti replaced Jebb and almost had an immediate impact with a cross that Joe Healy met with a header that flew over from 12 yards.

Nanetti’s corner caused more havoc when Jack Parkinson appeared to be bundled over, but it came to Healy who failed to hit the target from close range.

Phipps met another Nanetti corner that Howes touched over then an almighty scramble from his next delivery gave Healy another opportunity that he skied well over the bar.

That was as good as it got for Welling and although Hampton’s game management was not pretty to watch, it was effective enough to ensure they claimed the points.

 

Welling United: Barnes, Gayle (Durojaiye 30), Jefford, Dymond, Coyle, Parkinson, Jebb (Nanetti 61), Healy, Phipps (Bradbrook 76), Goldberg, Monakana.

Subs not used: Pattisson, Macklin.

 

Hampton and Richmond Borough: Howes, Collier, Casey, Cook, Wassmer, McAuley, Kiernan (Kretzschmar 17), Jolley, Moss, Crawford (Beere 62), Napa (Hudson-Odoi 73).

Subs not used: Mbo, Kamara.

 

Welling United:

Goalscorers: None

Yellow cards: Jefford

Red cards: None

 

Hampton and Richmond Borough:

Goalscorers: Moss (5)

Yellow cards: Kretzschmar, Wassmer

Red cards: None

 

Referee: Alex Blake

Assistants: Adrian Harris and Michael Robertson-Tant.

 

Attendance: 599

 

Welling star player: Connor Dymond.

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.