It was another disappointing afternoon for Welling United as they paid the price for mistakes at both ends at home to Hemel Hempstead Town.

They missed chances galore and switched off twice from corners to end up empty handed.

Manager Peter Taylor introduced centre back Elliot Johnson and midfielder D’Sean Theobalds for their Welling league debuts, and Tom Derry made his first start since early December. 

In the opening exchanges, Arthur Penney beat Hemel goalkeeper in the air, but Welling could not force it home. The goalkeeper, on loan from Dartford, needed extensive treatment, having fallen awkwardly, before he was fit enough to continue. 

Samir Carruthers shot well wide for the Tudors before he found Craig Fasanmade who made space to shoot but fired over.

Midway through the first half, Welling should have gone ahead. Dipo Akinyemi was too strong for Cole Kpekawa and crossed for Ade Shokunbi but his shot from eight yards clipped the bar on the way over when he should have done better.

Just before half time Jacob Gardiner-Smith was just unable to reach a cross by Gus Scott-Morriss before the referee ended an uneventful forty-five minutes.

However, that all changed almost immediately after the break. Kristian Campbell’s corner found Penney who brought it down to shoot on the turn. His shot was blocked but fell into the path of Akinyemi who turned it home at the second attempt.

He then turned provider, sending Tom Derry through but instead of shooting first time, he took an extra touch and an attempted trick flick failed. Akinyemi created another great chance soon after when he squared for Shokunbi who had just King to beat, but he hit it straight at him.

Akinyemi again caused havoc when coming in from the left, but despite the angle being against him, King saved his fierce shot, turning it against the post and out for a corner. Aaron Barnes delivered but Hemel cleared for another corner. His second delivery beat King but Scott-Morriss did well to hook it off the line.

Another Akinyemi shot was deflected wide before Hemel levelled against the run of play. They won a corner and Carruthers hit it deep to pick out Joash Nembhard, and he rose unchallenged to power his header back across the goal and into the far corner.

Taylor responded by bringing on Ben Allen for his second debut and then Bradley Stevenson, and the latter had a great chance to restore Welling’s lead. King fumbled a corner, and it came to Stevenson, but he could only volley over from ten yards.

Allen’s tenacity almost resulted in a chance for him, but King was just able to claim it off his toes before Jack Sims had to be alert to save as Carruthers broke away.

Two minutes remained when Hemel snatched the winner. A corner was headed out as far as Dan Wishart who was unmarked, and he smashed it into the back of the net from just inside the penalty area.

Next Saturday, Welling visit bottom club Billericay Town in a match that could have a major bearing in who ends up dropping into the Isthmian Premier. 

Welling United: Sims, Statham, Campbell, Durojaiye, Johnson, Penney, Barnes (Stevenson 79), Theobalds, Akinyemi, Derry (Allen 74), Shokunbi.

Subs not used: Saunders-Henry, Davis, Jackson.

Goalscorers: Akinyemi (48)

Yellow cards: Durojaiye, Campbell, Allen

Hemel Hempstead Town: King, Scott-Morriss, Kpekawa, Nembhard, Morgan-Griffiths, Westbrook, Fasanmade (Wishart 82), Carruthers, Cerulli (Fonkev 61), Castiglione, Gardiner-Smith (Paul 61).

Subs not used: Rosner, Saunders.

Goalscorers: Nembhard (71), Wishart (88)

Yellow cards: Castiglione

Referee: Matthew Norton

Assistants: Peter Conn and Joseph Gray

Attendance: 533