Steve King’s first home game in charge of Welling United ended in an odd goal defeat against Charlton Athletic.

For the first time there was a prize for the victors as the Addicks claimed the inaugural Eric Brackstone Trophy, in memory of the popular Welling United President.

On an extremely warm and humid afternoon, and in front of a decent crowd, both teams fielded all available first teamers including new signings and trialists with many unfamiliar faces on the pitch.

Early on it looked as if the spectators might be treated to a goal-fest. With six minutes on the clock, Welling took an unexpected lead. Adam Coombes found himself in a lot of space down the right wing with Naby Sarr stranded out of position. Coombes eased inside and picked his spot inside the far post with a crisply struck effort.

However, within a minute, the Addicks were level. Nicky Ajose had a shot beaten out by Dan Wilks as far as Karlan Grant. His shot was also pushed away by Wilks but it fell kindly for Ajose to finish well from wide.

Nassim L’Ghoul had a good chance when finding space to the left of Charlton’s back three but fired into Danson Park. Richard Orlu had a shot headed off the line as Welling looked to regain the lead.

Bradley Goldberg then fooled the Charlton defence when allowing a pass to run through to Gavin McCallum but the former Eastbourne Borough man dragged his shot wide of the near post.

After that, Charlton took control. They sliced their way through the Welling midfield to present Josh Magennis with a chance and Wilks was called upon to save well. Patrick Bauer headed over from Simon Dawkins’ corner.

Goldberg brought a straight-forward save out of Ashley Maynard-Brewer from an acute angle just before the break.

As they tend to do in this fixture Charlton manager Lee Bowyer went for an entirely different eleven for the second period. Wings’ boss Steve King chose to give his six of starters fifteen additional minutes and the rest longer.

Early in the second period a good slick team move, involving Albie Morgan and Igor Vetokele, ended with Tarique Fosu unable to keep his shot down.

Fosu then had a twenty-five yarder saved by Wilks before Jake Forster-Caskey was unable to finish following more good work from Morgan. Forster-Caskey again thought that he was in business but Wilks saved his effort comfortably.

Not very clever Welling attempts to play from the back presented Charlton with a chance to go ahead but Lyle Taylor did equally poorly when shooting wide when well placed.

King made six changes on the hour mark but Charlton’s full time training and superior fitness meant that they continued to look dangerous. Taylor had a powerful shot well saved by Wilks before Vetokele was unable to hit the target with a close-range header.

However, when the Addicks went ahead, there was controversy and luck involved. Forster-Caskey’s free kick looped up off the defensive wall, came back off the bar and fell to Taylor. He bundled home from close range despite Welling’s offside strong claims.

Morgan had a shot beaten out as far as Taylor who fired well over before L’Ghoul crashed a Welling free kick too high.

Further Welling substitutions disrupted play and there were few further openings before Welling had one last chance of claiming a share of the spoils. Goldberg, the only player to complete the full ninety minutes, was played in but he was squeezed out and unable to get enough power on his shot, allowing Dillon Phillips to make the save.

Welling United: Wilks, Gibbons, Braham-Barrett, Ijaha, Orlu, Audal, L’Ghoul, Kissock, Goldberg, Coombes, McCallum.

Substitutes included: Dymond, Mendy, Acheampong, Ambroisine, Newton, Johnson.

Charlton Athletic first half: Maynard-Brewer, Marshall, Bauer, Sarr, Page, Dakins, Aribo, Maloney, Grant, Magennis, Ajose.

Charlton Athletic second half: Phillips, Solly, Ward, Pearce, Blumberg, Morgan, Forster-Caskey, Lapslie, Fosu, Taylor, Vetokele.