Welling United ended March as they started February with a comfortable victory over Chester on Saturday.

Second half goals from Vasilious Karagiannis and Ross Lafayette were sufficient to ensure that the Wings, who played the last 59 minutes with ten men, were able to claim a comfortable victory.

Having climbed the leagues since forming following the extinction of Chester City, the new Chester F.C. are battling to stave off relegation in their first season in the Skrill Premier.

Although they enjoyed plenty of possession, they came up against a Welling back four that did not allow them to create any real chances and Lee Butcher was only forced into real work by the occasional cross.

At the other end, the Wings showed their attacking threat early on when the outstanding Karagiannis tricked Michael Kay before zipping in a cross that demanded a touch home from Lafayette or Tobi Sho-Silva.

Aaron Chapman’s double save thwarted Lee Clarke and Blaine Hudson as Chester failed to deal with Harry Beautyman’s free kick then Lafayette gave Karagiannis an opportunity to shoot beyond Chapman, but also the far post.

Jake Gallagher was dismissed in the 31^st minute for a tackle that looked worthy of a yellow card only but Welling still looked the more dangerous, despite their less adventurous formation.

Lafayette shot wide after good work by Beautyman, then had a shot saved at the near post by Chapman.

Gareth Seddon managed a shot on target for the visitors but his volley was claimed comfortably by Butcher.

In recent weeks, not finishing chances has proved costly for Welling and Seddon might have done better when he rose to head Craig Mahon’s cross goalwards, but his effort was again claimed easily by the Welling custodian.

Karagiannis, settled Welling’s nerves and silenced the Chester supporters with a superb finish in the 57^th minute from Lafayette’s superb through ball.

Jamie Day, Welling’s manager, withdrew the Wings goal-scorer before play restarted, bringing on Toby Ajala who had missed the Welling defeat at home to Braintree in midweek

Shortly after, Joe Healy and Josh Wakefield replaced Clarke and Beautyman as Day continued to rotate his squad.

Kay shot well wide with a speculative effort for Chester before Sho-Silva chipped wide for Welling.

Mahon cut in from the right wing but did not hit the target from twenty yards out before Welling made the game safe.

Wakefield broke away and checked his options before crossing to Lafayette at the far post. Welling’s leading goal-scorer volleyed back across the goal and in off the far post.

Late bookings followed for Andy Bond and John Rooney as a frustrated Chester team struugled to accept their fate.

 

Welling United: Butcher, Fazakerley, Williams, Gallagher, Taylor, Hudson, Beautyman (Wakefield 64), Clarke (Healy 64), Sho-Silva, Lafayette, Karagiannis (Ajala 58).

Unused substitutes: Day, Turner.

Chester: Chapman, Kay, Heath, Linwood, Hobson (Menagh 65), Jarrett (N. Turner 71), L. Turner, Bond, Seddon (Carlton 60), Mahon, Rooney.

Unused substitutes: Danby, Ashworth.

Referee: Daniel Cook

Attendance: 706

Welling star man: Vasilious Karagiannis

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.