Although they played well in patches, it was another disappointing afternoon for Welling United when beaten at home by Oxford City.

They created a number of chances but didn’t convert any of them and once the visitors went ahead they never really looked likely to get back into the match.

Olu Durojaiye had the first opportunity but slammed his shot into the side netting before brilliant work by Ade Shokunbi created a shooting chance for Mason Saunders-Henry but Reece Fleet made a brave block.

Another good Welling move ended when Dipo Akinyemi squared to Aaron Barnes but he tried to open up the angle and it ran away from him before he was able to get a shot away, much to the frustration of manager Peter Taylor.

After their promising start the Wings almost went behind when Jacob Bancroft’s shot came back out off the underside of the bar. Nana Owusu then tried his luck with a free kick that fizzed beyond the far post.

Saunders-Henry had a shot saved by Ben Dudzinski before Welling goalkeeper Jack Sims and Arthur Penney had a miscommunication allowing Joe Iaciofano to break clear. However, Penney got back to make a brilliant clearance off the line.

Owusu had a shot deflected wide by Penney but Welling had the last opportunity of the half when Shokunbi’s shot cannoned back off the post.

Welling continued to look lively upon the resumption and Shokunbi set up a shooting chance for Durojaiye but he was well off target. Akinyemi then got free down the inside left channel but Dudzinski got down well to save. The Oxford custodian was almost caught out soon after when Barnes’ overhit cross clipped the bar on its way over.

Despite Welling’s strong start to the half it was Oxford who went ahead. Owusu found Iaciofano and he finished with aplomb.

He almost added a second ten minutes later when he went on a good run, cut in, but fired well over. Substitute Elliott Benyon then got on the end of a punt out by Dudzinski and drew a good save out of Sims.

George Harmon had a shot deflected wide for Oxford before Danny Parish had a half chance for Welling with a header that went wide. The Wings had a shout for a penalty when Penney went down but referee Jason Richardson was not interested. 

Tommy Davis had a late shot saved but for the second consecutive game Welling drew a blank and will need a good response when they visit Braintree Town on Tuesday evening.

Welling United: Sims, Statham, Ezennolim, Durojaiye, Davis, Penney, Barnes (Campbell 65), Shokunbi (Parish 75), Akinyemi, Saunders-Henry, Drais (Stevenson 57).

Subs not used: Perkins, Jackson.

Goalscorers: None

Yellow cards: Durojaiye

Oxford City: Dudzinski, Asare, Harmon, Carroll, Rowan, Kyprianou, Iaciofano (Bradbury 90+3), Fleet, Bancroft (Benyon 64), McEachran (Potter 87), Owusu.

Subs not used: Matsuzaka, Coyle.

Goalscorers: Iaciofano (56)

Yellow cards: Kyprianou, Rowan Carroll

Referee: Jason Richardson

Assistants: Alex Mathieson and Kane Dempster

Attendance: 479

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.