After coming close to a National League FA Cup scalp last Saturday, Welling United crashed back down to earth with defeat at home to St. Albans City.

Albert Adu scored the only goal four minutes before half time in a game of very few chances.

Victory for the visitors took them off the foot of the table and to within two points of the Wings who are in danger of being dragged into a relegation battle.

David Longe-King was unable to get enough power on an early header to trouble Dan Wilks and the Welling goalkeeper had a bigger challenge when unsure whether a tackle that flew back to him would be deemed a back pass. He took no chances and jumped to chest it down before clearing down field.

Jack Jebb got on the end of a deep Anthony Cook cross but at full stretch so he was unable to direct it goalwards.

Bradley Goldberg’s game finished on twenty minutes when he pulled up with a groin strain and was replaced by Aaron Cosgrave.

Zane Banton then had a chance to open the scoring. Adu played him in and Dquame Copeland, who was in for the injured Ejiro Okosieme, did well to slow him up. Banton’s strength helped him get a shot away but Wilks made a good block with his boot.

Banton headed over for the Saints and Adam Coombes did likewise, albeit with a deflection, at the other end before Connor Dymond rifled a low volley just wide from twenty five yards with Dean Snedker beaten.

Four minutes before the break, the Saints went ahead. Adu was given time to set up a shot from the edge of the penalty area and still unchallenged he fired just inside the far post giving Wilks no chance.

Jebb and Coombes both had half chances that went wide before the half time break.

During the interval, Mark Goldberg decided to use his two remaining substitutes and to change the team’s formation. Gavin McCallum and Theo Widdrington were introduced to replace Connor Dymond and Danny Waldren.

Early in the second half Adu fired high over but there were still no real chances until a Welling corner was cleared easily and St Albans had a three on one break. Oliver Sprague should have done better but allowed the one defender to intercept and clear.

At last, Welling lifted their game and McCallum had a good chance to make something happen when Sanchez Ming’s cross was not cleared but he shot tamely into the side netting with players imploring him to pull it back.

Rob Swaine’s header brought an easy save out of Snedker then Copeland headed wide from a Cook free kick. Widdrington had a shot blocked wide and Jebb also had a shot deflected beyond the far post.

One last half chance came Welling’s way but Coombes’ header from Cook’s corner also failed to hit the target.

Welling United: Wilks, Ming, Anderson, Dymond (Widdrington 46), Swaine, Copeland, Jebb, Waldren (McCallum 46), Goldberg (Cosgrave 20), Coombes, Cook.

Subs not used: Rich-Baghuelou, Green.

St Albans City: Snedker, Howe (Diedhiou 31), Shulton, Longe-King, Kaloczi, Knight, Banton, Adu, Nwabuokei (Noble 76), Sprague (Bender 71), Musonda.

Subs not used: Bonfield, Foxley.

Goalscorers: Adu (41)

Referee: Philip Staynings

Assistants: Jack Oxenham and Christopher Myatt

Attendance: 406

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden