Victory over Chelmsford City guaranteed Welling United a top four finish.

They are now two points behind Woking in second and four points ahead of Chelmsford in fourth with two games remaining.

All the damage was done in the first half, By the interval Welling were two up and Chelmsford were down to ten men.

It took less than a minute for them to go ahead. Although the original kick off was cleared down the line, Craig Braham-Barrett played it down the line and Danny Mills headed it inside and behind the back four. Goldberg collected it and made space for himself before firing into the bottom corner.

Dan Wilks made a good save when Richard Orlu’s header from a long throw went towards his own goal before Goldberg skinned Elliot Omozusi but Clarets goalkeeper Nathan McDonald was out quickly to stop him from finishing.

Orlu then came close at the other end but his header from Gavin McCallum’s corner went just wide.

Brendan Kiernan then got in behind and as he prepared to slot home, Chez Isaac brought him down from behind. Isaac was dismissed and Goldberg ignored all distractions to slam home the penalty.

Despite being down to ten men, Chelmsford came out strongly in the second half and Braham-Barrett twice cleared goal bound efforts, first a header from Chris Whelpdale then a shot from Rhys Murphy.

Whelpdale’s low drive was claimed comfortably by Wilks before Murphy was cautioned. Having twice angered the Welling bench when going to ground needlessly, he did it once too often and received the appropriate punishment. He was substituted shortly afterwards.

Wilks made further easy saves from Anthony Church and Jordan Chiedozie before Michael Spillane  headed wide when getting onto the end of a free kick.

As the game drew to a close Chelmsford missed a great chance. Chiedozie pulled back from the bye-line but Whelpdale got his feet in a mess and the chance was gone.

Deep into injury time Goldberg might have completed his hat-trick but McDonald dived to tip over his header from Luke Rooney’s free kick.

Welling visit East Thurrock United on Easter Monday before finishing their campaign with a home game against Hampton and Richmond Borough next Saturday.

Welling United: Wilks, Ming, Braham-Barrett, Mendy, Audel, Orlu, Kiernan, Ijaha (Achempong 90), Mills (Bettamer 82), Goldberg, McCallum (Rooney 74). Subs not used: Newton, Genovesi.

Chelmsford City: McDonald, Omozusi, Anderson, Spillane, Cascaval (Reynolds 46), Porter, Isaac, Church, Giles (Chiedozie 56), Whelpdale, Murphy (Cosgrave 69). Subs not used: Barnum-Bobb, Young.

Welling United:

Goalscorers: Goldberg (1), pen (37)

Yellow cards: Kiernan

Red cards: None

Chelmsford City:

Goalscorers: Nonr

Yellow cards: Murphy, Chiedozie

Red cards: Isaac

Referee: Matty Buonassisi

Assistants: Gerry Heron and Aurel Onita

Attendance: 934

Welling star man: Bradley Goldberg

Images courtesy of Dave Budden