Hopes of staying in the Vanarama National League South took a massive blow when Welling United conceded late to lose at home to Hemel Hempstead Town.
Brian Statham’s first game in charge, following Rod Stringer’s weekend resignation, failed to give the club the new manager bounce that they hoped for.
Millar Matthews-Lewis scuffed a shot wide for the visitors in the early stages before Josh Redfearn headed a Maxwell Statham cross past the post at the other end. Redfearn then stabbed over from a Sahid Kamara cross and Kamara was again in the thick of the action when drawing a low save out of Craig King.
Kamara and Zain Walker both had efforts deflected wide before a quick free kick by Gene Kennedy found Walker whose low shot was saved.
Matthews-Lewis hit a long range effort that appeared to have gone wide without any intervention but the referee thought otherwise and awarded a corner. Maxwell Statham came to Welling’s rescue when clearing off the line from Joe White.
Walker then knocked Matthews-Lewis over in the penalty area and a spot kick was awarded. Oliver Lynch took the responsibility but Rhys Lovett read his intentions and saved. It came back out to Lynch and Chiori Johnson did brilliantly to get back and hack the follow-up off the line.
Sam Cornish then sent Walker through and his low stabbed shot was saved by King before Redfearn tried to make an angle for himself but shot wide of the near post.
Just before half time, it was Welling’s turn to have one cleared of the line when Ben Tompkins blocked out Kennedy’s close range effort.
Early in the second period Matthews-Lewis shot just over after a Welling clearance lacked conviction before a Dan Quick hooked volley went wide at the other end. Welling’s problems with long throws again came to the fore when one was knocked on to Matthews-Lewis whose header was saved easily by Lovett.
While that save was comfortable, Lovett had to work harder to push a low shot by White round the post, followed by an excellent tip over to keep out a free kick by Brandon Barzey. The Welling goalkeeper made a more regulation save from George Williams but he was powerless to stop the Tudors from going ahead with thirteen minutes remaining. Barzey pulled it back for Lynch to tuck home from close range.
Five minutes later, Welling levelled. Kamara cut in from the left and fired a low shot from twenty yards into the bottom corner.
Barzey almost put the visitors back ahead when his shot came back out of the post. Lynch was first to the rebound but his follow up was kept out by a combination of Riccardo Di Trolio and Lovett and it flew over the bar,
Finishing strongly, Hemel again went close when Lovett made a brilliant stoppage time save to tip over a Matthews-Lewis shot that took a wicked deflection. However, Welling’s escape was short-lived as the visitors scored the winner in the fifth minute of stoppage time. A header by Mazeed Ogungbo struck a Welling arm and another penalty was awarded. This time, White stepped up and he sent Lovett the wrong way.
As a result of the loss, Welling remain eight points adrift of safety with just seven matches remaining.
Welling United: Lovett, Statham, Johnson, Quick, Burchell, Di Trolio, Z. Walker (Kashket 66), Cornish (Taylor-Crossdale (79), Redfearn (Moore 59), Kennedy, Kamara.
Subs not used: Grant, Bramble.
Goalscorers: Kamara (82)
Yellow cards: Johnson (14 foul), Kennedy (66 foul), Burchell (90+4 handball)
Hemel Hempstead Town: King, Adenola, Ogungbo, Achuba (Wiltshire 79), Tompkins, Ajayi, Williams, Matthews-Lewis (Smith 90+6), Lynch (McKeown 90+8), White, Barzey (Omoko-Brosnan 90+1).
Sub not used: Chinedu.
Goalscorers: Lynch (77), White pen (90+5)
Yellow cards: Adenola (40 foul), Lynch (77 kicking ball away)
Referee: Nicholas Dunn
Assistants: Jamie Jadvirsis and Edward Smith
Fourth Official: Deryll David
Attendance: 520
Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.