Ten men Welling United came from behind to beat play-off chasers Hampton and Richmond Borough.

After the surprise sacking of Danny Bloor following the Wings’ excellent win at Hemel Hempstead Town, new manager Rod Stringer came in and oversaw another strong performance.

In truth, the first forty-five minutes was fairly uneventful. Hampton goalkeeper Adam Desbois rode his luck early on when he raced out of the area and mistimed his block, keeping it out with a combination of chest and arm which was not spotted by the referee. 

Antony Papadopoulos fired over for Welling when a goalmouth scramble ended with it falling into his path on the edge of the penalty area, however, there was no more real penalty area action until the last minute of the first half when the visitors went ahead. A standard far post corner found Dean Inman and he shinned it home from a yard out.

Jake Gray might have made it two before the break but a deflection took the sting out of his shot and Reice Charles-Cook was able to get down to save.

Early in the second period Adam Roscrow burst through and had a low shot saved by Desbois before Welling drew level. Will Wood’s clever play put Papadopoulos in space and his low cross was tucked away by Roscrow for his first goal in Welling colours.

Ben Seymour looked for a quick response when his run got him in behind the Welling back four but Lachlan Byrd got back to make a vital block. Mason Bloomfield then headed a corner towards the far corner where Dominic Odusanya rose to nod it away before Joshua Anifwose shot wide at the other end.

Chaos then ensued midway inside the Hampton half. Dean Wishart fouled Tristan Abrahams and the Welling striker reacted badly. A fracas followed resulting in Abrahams being dismissed, Wishart being shown a yellow card, and a Hampton coach, who had run on needlessly to get involved, was also sent off.

Despite being short-handed, Welling didn’t sit back and try to protect the point and Desbois made a double save to keep out Odusanya’s long range drive, and Roscrow’s follow up.

Although Hampton escaped from that moment of danger, they went behind soon after. Cameron Green sent over a deep free kick and Byrd got on the end of it with a powerful header that gave Desbois no chance.

At the other end, Inman met a deep free kick with a looping header that Charles-Cook held under the bar before Welling had an opportunity to put the game to bed. Roscrow burst away down the right and timed his cross-field pass to perfection to create a one-on-one for Mbunya Alemanji. He looked certain to score but it appeared to take a bobble just as he shot and Desbois made a great save.

Anthony Grant had a shot saved more comfortably by Desbois as Welling saw out the additional six minutes without alarm.

Welling United: Charles-Cook, Lema, Wood (Alemanji 63), Grant, Ellul, Byrd, Papadopoulos, Odusanya, Roscrow (Burchell 90+5), Abrahams, Green.

Subs not used: Curran, Bridgeman, Muwonge.

Goalscorers: Roscrow (54), Byrd (71)

Yellow card: Grant

Red card: Abrahams

Hampton and Richmond Borough: Desbois, Thomas (Dreyer 46), Revan, Wishart (Pitblado 72), Inman, Fernandez, Deadfield, Anifwose (Fadahunsi 35), Seymour, Bloomfield, Gray.

Subs not used: Hall, Kurran-Browne.

Goalscorers: Inman (44)

Yellow cards: Gray, Deadfield, Wishart

Red card: Unknown member of coaching staff.

Referee: Michael Robertson-Tant

Assistants: Mark Pond and Marcin Indyk

Attendance: 780

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.