Goals from Thierry Audel and Jack Jebb led Welling United to what was an ultimately comfortable victory over Dulwich Hamlet.
Twelve players made their Welling United league debuts with only Jebb and substitute Bradley Goldberg having played for the club last season.
Manager Steve King employed an attacking formation but it was his defenders who were called into the action more as Dulwich came out on the offensive.
Thierry Audel and Yannis Ambroisine were outstanding at the back, and full backs Jordan Gibbons and Craig Braham-Barrett had to concentrate on their defensive duties in the early stages.
So well did they defend that the visitors were unable to muster a goal attempt until a 25th minute Ashley Carew free kick came back off the defensive wall.
Dan Wilks did well to claim an awkward long throw having knocked it onto his own post before Welling started to come into the game.
Captain David Ijaha and Arnaud Mendy had been involved in defensive midfield duties but started to have more of an influence on attacks as Welling enjoyed the better of the latter stages of the half. Magnus Okuonghae was called upon into making an important intervention as Danny Mills looked to set up Nassim L’Ghoul just before the interval.
Carew had another chance from a free kick just after the break but Wilks made a superb save to tip over and Welling went on to control the second period.
A three minute spell proved key. In the fifty-second minute the Wings went ahead. Jebb slung in a free kick that required a touch and that was duly administered by the outstanding Audel. Then, three minutes later, Carew shoved Mills into the ground perimeter earning him a second yellow card.
Gibbons shot over and Gavin McCallum fired wide before Welling increased their lead with their best move of the day. McCallum eventually knocked it down and Jebb finished from a tight angle.
Substitutes Brendan Kiernan and John Paul Kissock were both off target for Welling before Nathan Ferguson rolled an effort harmlessly wide for Dulwich in injury time.
Welling United: Wilks, Gibbons, Braham-Barrett, Ijaha (Kissock 75), Ambroisine, Audel, McCallum, Mendy, Mills, Jebb (Goldberg 81), L’Ghoul (Kiernan 75).
Subs not used: Orlu, Banya.
Dulwich Hamlet: Edwards, Ming, Abrahams (Green 21), Kargbo, Okuonghae, Pappoe, Cook (Vose 86), Carew, Akinyemi (Figueira 67), Ferguson, Lawrence.
Subs not used: Tomlin, May.
Welling United:
Goalscorers: Audel (52), Jebb (65)
Yellow cards: Braham-Barrett, L’Ghoul
Red cards: None
Dulwich Hamlet:
Goalscorers: None
Yellow cards: Akinyemi, Carew, Kargbo, Cook, Green,
Red cards: Carew
Referee: Daniel Lampont
Assistants: Jack Oxenham and Jonathan Bolland
Attendance: 1,057
Welling star player: Thierry Audel
Images courtesy of Dave Budden