Hopes of building on their two consecutive victories were scuppered for Welling United when they hosted Chelmsford City.

There were plenty of incidents in a game that sometimes threatened to boil over, but it was Simeon Jackson’s brace that proved to be the difference.

Adebola Oluwo had the first goal attempt of the match when meeting a Devonte Aransibia free kick, but his header flew over. At the other end, Welling had a fantastic opportunity when Stefan Payne was brought down on the edge of the penalty area. Taylor Maloney took the free kick, but his shot cannoned back off the crossbar.

Harry Lodovica curled wide having done well to create the opportunity on the counter-attack then the game switched to the other end when Tom Dickens played it forward to Tyrique Hyde who flicked it on to Maloney, but he could not garner enough power on his side-footer to worry Jacob Marsden in the Chelmsford goal.

Eduino Vaz created another opportunity for the Clarets, but Callum Jones’ low cross-shot was well held by Myles Roberts before Welling were on the wrong side of a big decision. Maloney delivered a corner and Dave Winfield punched it out. Amazingly, neither the referee, nor his assistant, saw it.

Another Maloney corner caused Chelmsford further issues. He sent it deep, Manny Parry rose to meet it and nod it back across goal, Payne back headed towards the far post, but Henty Ochieng was in the right place to head it off the line.

As the first half ended, the visitors almost nicked a goal. Marsden’s long clearance went beyond the Welling back line and Jackson nipped in to head over the onrushing Roberts but it floated wide of the empty net.

Marsden made a comfortable save from a Payne flick header after Maloney had crossed before Welling might have found themselves reduced to ten men. Jones was caught late by Amadou Kassarate and after the referee had allowed Chelmsford an advantage that came to nothing, he returned to show the Wings midfield man a yellow card.

That was the end of the afternoon for the Clarets’ substitute as he was carried off and replaced.

Louis Dunne came on and his first piece of the action was to fire a shot into Danson Park after Aransibia’s shot had been blocked into his path.

Over twenty second half minutes had passed when the deadlock was broken. Jackson was given space out of the left-hand side, and he cut in before unleashing a fierce drive that gave Roberts no chance.

Payne had a chance to level three minutes later when Hyde was brought down in the penalty area.

Having won his argument with Ade Azeez over who would take it, Marsden went the right way and parried the strike away.

Azeez had a half chance of his own but couldn’t get the power needed to beat Marsden before Jackson scored again with nine minutes remaining.

Welling were trying to make a substitution and switched off from a throw in which allowed Tom Blackwell space to drive in a near post cross for Jackson to turn in from close range.

Maloney pulled one back with five minutes remaining with a goal that Chelmsford manager Robbie Simpson described as a ‘worldie’, but they could only fashion one more chance when Parry headed over from another Maloney free kick.

Welling United: Roberts, Howard (Papadopoulos 82), Dickens, Dunne, Sendles-White, Parry, Maloney, Hyde (Nzala 75), Azeez, Payne, Kassarate.

Sub not used: Jackson, Elito, Francis.

Goalscorers: Maloney (85)

Yellow cards: Dunne, Kassarate, Feeney (manager), Nzala

Chelmsford City: Marsden, James (Jones 12 (Dunne 53)), Vaz, Winfield, Oluwo, Ochieng, Blackwell (Ruff 84), Aransibia, Jackson, Trotter, Lodovica.

Subs not used: Hockey, Yila, Dunne.

Goalscorers: Jackson (67, 81)

Yellow cards: Ochieng, Trotter

Referee: Robert Claussen

Assistants: Stephen Hawkes and Matthew Ball

Attendance: 901

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.