Despite being days away from a massive F.A. Cup tie with Crystal Palace, Dover Athletic did not take things easy and completed a comfortable festive season double over Welling United.
Park View Road has become something of a fortress for the Wings but Dover became the third Kent based club to breach it this season, running out comfortable 2-0 winners.
Two goals from corners proved sufficient for the visitors and Jody Brown will be desperate to bring in reinforcements in the transfer window for the Wings.
Connor Essam and Stefan Payne both hooked over in the early stages before the latter got behind the defence and chipped to the far post where Barry Cogan stretched to knock wide.
Aristide Bassele had Welling’s first chance when played in by Joe Healy but the AFC Bournemouth loanee blasted over.
Healy was soon involved again when his shot was deflected, then blocked as far as Jake Gallagher but his fierce drive was just too high.
Cogan had a shot blocked by Jamal Fyfield before Dover failed to capitalise on three consecutive corners.
Having already had a long lecture from the referee, Connor Essam can have few complaints about being booked for another clumsy challenge soon after. Healy followed minutes later for an equally ugly tackle.
After the break, Tom Bonner became the third player cautioned when he wrestled Charlie Penny to the ground as he attempted to break through.
Payne twice came near, first when seeing a close range shot deflected wide, then when blocking a Jonathan Henly clearance and seeing it rebound into the side netting as Fyfield came round to cover.
Eventually, the pressure told and after 63 minutes, Dover went ahead when a near post corner was not cleared properly and Sean Raggett bundled home.
Substitute Kieron St. Aimie had an opportunity for Welling from Bassele’s through ball, but a great block deflected his shot off target.
Fifteen minutes remained when Dover made the game safe as Cogan rifled into the roof of the net when another corner was not cleared.
Ben Jefford registered Welling’s first shot on target that Andrew Rafferty saved at full stretch but Essam and Tom Wynter both went wide with headers before James Poole fired well over.
Welling United: Henly, Corne, Jefford, Gallagher, Bush, Fyfield, Bassele, Fagan, Penny, Hudson, Healy.
Unused substitutes: Buchel, Ouani, Kiassos, Taylor.
Dover Athletic: Rafferty, Essam, Orlu, Bonner, Raggett. Sterling, Bellamy, Cogan, Deverdics (Wynter 70), Murphy, Payne (Poole 72).
Unused substitutes: Francis, Reid, Nanetti.
Referee: Robert Whitton
Man of the match: Barry Cogan
Attendance: 783
Pictures supplied by Dave Budden