Another excellent midweek performance propelled Welling United back into the top half of the table.

Although Gateshead play excellent passing football, and enjoyed plenty of possession, especially in the first half, they rarely troubled the Wings who thoroughly deserved their win.

They had already had a couple of chances before Joe Healy nailed the Wings’ February goal of the month with a twenty yard volley in the seventh minute.

Pace and hard work by the Wings’ front free kept the Heed defence occupied and Adam Bartlett was the busier of the two goalkeepers.

After Harry Beautyman had seen his shot saved, Toby Ajala just failed to connect with a teasing Ross Lafayette cross.

When Gateshead did threaten, Lee Butcher was out quickly forcing Jamie Chandler to shoot wide before Loui Fazakerley shot wide for Welling before the break.

Ajala had another shot saved after the break, Tobi Sho-Silva fizzed an effort over, then Ajala had another attempt deflected wide following good work by Tom Bender.

It came as no surprise when Welling added a second in the 59^th minute although there was a large slice of good fortune in the way it was scored.

Alfie Mawson met Beautyman’s corner with a powerful header but it took a large deflection to fly into the far corner of the net.

Marcus Maddison had a shot that flew just beyond Butcher’s far post and Liam Hatch failed to hit the target with a diving header but Welling were denied a late penalty when referee Colin Lymer deemed a foul on Lafayette was outside the area and Healy hit the free kick well over.

 

Welling United: Butcher, Fazakerley, Bender, Gallagher, Hudson, Mawson, Beautyman (Wakefield 67), Ajala (McLaren 84), Sho-Silva, Lafayette, Healy.

Unused substitutes: Turner, Day.

Gateshead: Bartlett, Magner, Chandler (Walker 73), Curtis, Cummins (Lester 63), Brown (Hatch 56), Baxter, Marwood, Sirrell, Maddison, Oster.

Unused substitutes: Holt, Noble.

Referee: Colin Lymer

Attendance: 455

Welling star man: Joe Healy

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.