There was more disappointment for Welling United as they were beaten at home by Weston-super-Mare.

For the first half an hour they were good value for their early lead but two goals conceded in a three minute spell put the visitors in charge and the Wings never looked like getting back into the game.

Two players who were at Wingate and Finchley last season combined to put Welling ahead in the second minute. Anointed Chukwu did well to control a long pass and lay it off to Elliot Long. He returned it to Chukwu who shifted it to his right before burying it into the bottom corner.

Reuben Reid had Weston’s first chance when bringing down a long cross-field pass on his chest and his fierce drive clipped the bar on the way over, presumably via a tip by Rhys Lovett as a corner was awarded. It was half cleared as far as Daniel Martin who did well to find Chukwu on the counter. He clipped it forwards and, despite attempts to hold him back, Gene Kennedy went in chase. Weston goalkeeper Max Harris was alert to the danger and burst to just get there first.

Martin then sent over a swirling cross-shot that had Harris back-pedalling and he had to twist to push it over the bar.

It was slightly against the run of play when Weston equalised. James Dodd whipped in a free kick that Welling failed to cut out and Reid headed home from three yards out. Three minutes later, the Wings went behind to a hugely debatable penalty. Although a cross struck Dave Winfield’s arm inadvertently, it was well outside the area but the assistant referee signalled for a penalty and the referee pointed to the spot. Former Ebbsfleet United, Bromley and Dartford winger, Luke Coulson, stepped up and put it right in the corner.

Dodd should have added a third shortly before half time but with the goal gaping, he shot wide from fifteen yards.

After the break, chances were few and far between as Weston were happy to sit on what the had and try to hit Welling on the break while the Wings didn’t have the guile to open them up. A forty yard shot by Reid was saved very easily by Lovett then, after combining well with Kwaku Donkor, Long’s close range effort was blocked out for a corner.

Chukwu then again used his chest to good effect to create another opportunity for Long but he hooked over then Winfield met a corner from Martin with a header that was saved comfortably by Harris.

Just over twenty minutes remained when Weston scored the important third goal. A long clearance caught the Welling defence flat footed and Coulson raced through, went round Lovett, and rolled it into the empty net.

No further chances came at either end until Welling had a call for a penalty turned down with two minutes left when Martell Taylor-Crossdale went down in the penalty area.

Rod Stringer, Welling’s manager, does not have long to dwell on the result as the Wings are back in action on Tuesday evening with another tough task away to Worthing.

Welling United: Lovett, Donkor, Martin (Osew 76), Burchell (Statham 46), Winfield, Lankshear, Cornish (Andrews 80), Kennedy, Chukwu, Long (Bergkamp 76), Grant (Taylor-Crossdale 61). Subs not used: None.

Goalscorers: Chukwu (2)

Yellow cards: Grant, Kennedy, Winfield, Lovett, Taylor-Crossdale, Donkor

Weston-super-Mare: Harris, Pope, Kirkman, Jagger-Kane, Lewis, Avery, Chamberlain (Rose 86), Dodd, Reid (Kadji 80), McCootie (Bak 86), Coulson (Bastin 90+1). Sub not used: Absalom.

Goalscorers: Reid (35), Coulson pen (38), (71)

Yellow cards: Kirkman, Lewis, Reid

Referee: Jonathan Chadwick

Assistants: Nicholas Garside and Joseph Dann-Pye

Fourth Official: Abdul Olol

Attendance: 536

Images courtesy of Dave Budden