Having lost three on the spin, Welling United bounced back with victory over previously unbeaten Concord Rangers.
They came out strongly in the first half and deserved to be ahead at the break. In the second period they had to defend well and ride their luck in the latter stages as they tired but they dug in after conceding and claimed the winner at the death.
Lamar Reynolds and Tosan Popo both had shots saved either side of Olu Durojaiye firing over for Welling before the hosts went ahead.
Dipo Akinyemi looked as though he had lost possession but fought to win it back. He played it out to Che Krabbendam who played a one-two with Ben Allen to go clear and fire home.
Billy Cracknell headed over from Daniel Green’s corner before Welling had a great chance to extend their lead. Ben Allen was brought down in the penalty area by Cracknell but Myles Roberts went the right way to make an excellent save from Akinyemi’s spot kick.
Looking to take advantage of their escape, Temi Babalola got on the end of a deep free kick but his goal-bound header was cleared off the line by Olu Durojaiye.
Roberts made another great save from Krabbendam, pushing his close range shot onto the post and out after good work by Akinyemi. Soon after Akinyemi created a further opportunity but Roberts made an outstanding save from Allen’s shot.
Twice more Allen was thwarted by the brilliance of Roberts. First Krabbendam’s delicious through ball sent him away but Roberts saved superbly, then Allen intercepted a throw back and fired low but again Roberts made a good low save.
After the interval, Akinyemi had an unsuccessful appeal for a penalty then Bradley Pearce headed a Durojaiye free kick wide. Krabbendam nutmegged his opposite number to send Akinyemi away and his reverse pass found Allen but the angle was against him and Roberts again saved well.
Green fired wide for Concord at the end of a good move then Welling got caught from their own corner and Reynolds burst through and chipped the Welling keeper but his shot clipped the post on the way out.
Green headed wide before Welling had an escape when Babalola headed on a corner but Aaron Pollock kneed it over from close range. Martin Odei had a shot and Teddy Perkins dived to block it. Although Concord shouted for a penalty, it was unconvincing and dismissed.
Eighteen minutes remained when Concord levelled. Ross Crane had just come on as a substitute and he sent in a dangerous cross that Pearce could only head into his own net.
Maloney had to rush out to clear a long ball over the top with a diving header before Allen drew another great save out of Roberts. Mason Saunders-Henry curled over but it was the Welling debutant substitute who scored the winner one minute into injury time when firing low into the bottom corner from twenty yards.
Next Saturday, Welling will be back at Park View Road hoping to build on their first win of the season when hosting Slough Town.
Welling United: Mahoney, Barnes, Pepe (Ezennolim 66), Durojaiye, Pearce, Perkins, Krabbendam, Stevenson, Akinyemi (Hinds 77), Allen, Shokunbi (Saunders-Henry 70).
Subs not used: Ilic, Brown.
Goalscorers: Krabbendam (10), Saunders-Henry (90+1)
Yellow cards: Stevenson, Durojaiye
Red cards: None
Concord Rangers: Roberts, Popo, Paynes (Crane 70), Peck (Boachie 82), Pollock, Kensdale, Odei (Blackman 76), Cracknell, Babalola, Green, Reynolds.
Subs not used: Ekpiteta, Reid.
Goalscorers: Pearce og
Yellow cards: Cracknell, Kensdale, Blackman
Red cards: None
Referee: Paul Johnson
Assistants: Callum Peter and James Hurst
Attendance: 423
Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.