It was a disappointing evening for Welling United as they crashed at home to Dulwich Hamlet.

Hoping to follow up their victory over Chippenham with another to ease their relegation worries, they found their visitors far too strong.

Although Dipo Akinyemi shot over in the opening exchanges, Welling were soon on the backfoot. Jordan Green got clear and rounded debutant goalkeeper Sam Jackson but Tom Davis got back to clear off the line. It came out and chaos ensued with defenders throwing themselves in the way of shots before it was eventually clasped by Jackson.

Their luck ran out in the fifteenth minute when a clearance fell to Quade Taylor and the former Wing fired home with the aid of a slight deflection.

Akinyemi had a half chance to level but did not get a clean connection before Charlie Grainger made a stunning one handed reaction save to keep out a shot by Aaron Barnes. Had that gone in things might have been different but shortly afterwards Dulwich doubled their lead. 

James Dayton had the original chance but his effort was blocked into the path of Chike Kandi and his shot gave Jackson no chance.

Half time loomed when Welling again came close. An outrageous turn by Ade Shokunbi, on the touchline, left Taylor floundering as he burst to the bye-line. He then fired across the six yard box with a delivery begging for a touch but it was just out of the reach of the Welling strikers.

Immediately after the break Kandi was not flagged for offside and he burst clear, but Jackson was out sharply to block. However, it was not long before Dulwich increased their lead. A corner caused further problems in the Welling defence and it fell into the path of Taylor who crashed it home.

Grainger was again called into action to make another great save to keep out Akinyemi’s free kick before he made a more straight-forward one from substitute Tom Derry’s header.

Arthur Penney headed over before Welling reduced the arrears with thirteen minutes remaining. Akinyemi’s shot was handled in the penalty area and the Welling striker converted confidently from the spot.

He then shot wide after Dulwich had difficulty in clearing a corner but the visitors came close again in injury time when Dayton cut in from the right but fired his left foot shot over.

Welling travel to Slough on Saturday looking for a quick bounce-back.

Welling United: Sims, Statham, Ezennolim, Durojaiye, Davis, Penney, Barnes, Shokunbi, Akinyemi, Saunders-Henry, Stevenson (Derry 46).

Subs not used: Sims, Pearce, Parish, Campbell.

Goalscorers: Akinyemi pen (77)

Yellow cards: None

Chippenham Town: Grainger, Taylor Blackman,(Splatt 50) Levee, Holland, Vint, Green (Allassani 73), Higgs, Kandi, Dayton, McQueen (Sekajja 73).

Subs not used: Olumowene, Mills.

Goalscorers: Taylor (15), (51), Kandi (31)

Yellow cards: Green, Blackman, Allassani, Levee

Referee: Michael Ryan

Assistants: Will Briers and Ciaran Fidler

Attendance: 626

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.