Newly promoted Chesham United claimed all three points at out of sorts Welling United.
Rod Stringer made one change to the team who drew nil-nil at Hornchurch on August Bank Holiday Monday, giving TJ Bramble a start with Elliot Long dropping to the substitute’s bench.
His team found themselves under immediate pressure when Avan Jones whipped in a low cross that curled just past the far post. Welling created further problems for themselves when throwing numbers forward for a corner.
It was cleared quickly and Omar Rowe raced through and looked certain to score until goalkeeper Rhys Lovett spread himself to make an outstanding save.
Callum Adebiyi then had an opportunity for Chesham when meeting a deep corner with a firm header that Anthony Grant nodded off the line. Rowe miscued a shot for the visitors that rebounded kindly off a defender into the path of Mitchell Weiss whose shot flew across the face of goal.
Adebiyi had a shot that bounced awkwardly and came out off Lovett’s chest before the visitors went ahead. A high clearance was allowed to bounce in the area and Weiss hooked it inside the far post. Joseph Grant had a header saved by Lovett after Welling gave it away in midfield before the Wings’ goalkeeper made an easy catch from a Steve Brown header.
Martell Taylor-Crossdale sent a free kick wide as Welling finally showed attacking intent then just before half time Daniel Martin cut in from the right and struck a fierce low drive that brought out a fine save from Benjamin Goode.
After the break, Welling attempted to create problems and there was a big moment just after the hour mark, Crossdale-Taylor burst into the penalty area and, as he attempted to round Goode, he went down. The referee decided that it was a dive and cautioned him. As he had already been shown a yellow card, he was sent off.
Ten minutes later, Welling had another shout for a penalty and looked very hard done by when it was turned away. Martin put Oscar Borg through and he was brought down before he could slot it home.
Lovett made another great save to thwart Weiss as he burst through then was forced to make another excellent stop to push Rowe’s shot around the post.
Gene Kennedy tried to be cute for Welling with a free kick under the wall but it struck a trailing boot and deflected wide.
Despite being short handed, Stringer sent players forward to try and find an equaliser but Welling paid the price with twelve minutes remaining when Rowe was left in space and he fired towards the bottom corner. Although Lovett did superbly to get a hand to it, he couldn’t keep it out.
Seven minutes later, Chesham added a third. Lovett made a brilliant save to thwart T’Sharne Gallimore but it came out to Weiss who chipped into the empty net from twenty-five yards.
Deep into injury time, Welling scored a consolation goal when Jacob Mensah’s diagonal free kick was met by Martin beyond the far post and he headed home from a tight angle.
On Monday, Welling are back in action when they visit Hemel Hempstead Town and Stringer will be looking for a positive response.
Welling United: Lovell, Johnson (Borg 40) Mensah 80), Martin, Burchell, Winfield, Wells, Kennedy, A. Grant (Cornish 80), Chukwu (R. Grant 80), Taylor-Crossdale, Bramble (Long 46).
Subs not used: None.
Goalscorer: Martin (90+8)
Yellow cards: Taylor-Crossdale, Chukwu, Stringer
Red card: Taylor-Crossdale
Chesham United: Goode, Jones (Roberts 90+1), Rolfe, Adebiyi, Brown (Cawley 90+1), Stevens, Grant (Casey 90+1), Lodge, Weiss, Rowe (Clayton 83), Gallimore (Connors 86).
Subs not used: Cawley, Clayton, Casey, Connors, Roberts.
Goalscorers: Weiss (26), (85), Rowe (78)
Yellow cards: Gallimore, Rowe
Referee: Ayrton Hursey
Assistants: Daniel Doyle and Marcin Indyk
Fourth Official: Bogdan Khimych
Attendance: 597
Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.