Riccardo Di Trolio and Zane Walker scored the goals for Welling United in their victory over Weymouth in a relegation battle in the Vanarama National League South.
Despite illness in the camp, Rod Stringer’s team fought hard to win three valuable points.
Malachi Linton, the Weymouth front man, was given far too much time to turn and shoot but he didn’t make the most of it when blasting well wide. He then got on the end of a long cross and headed into the arms of new Welling goalkeeper, Dylan Berry, giving him a confidence boost.
However, it was Welling who drew first blood in the eighth minute. Sam Cornish delivered a free kick and Di Trolio rose to power his header home.
Chiori Johnson’s turn on the edge of the penalty area created space for a left foot shot that he sliced well wide. The Welling wing back went closer soon after when TJ Bramble picked him out and he fired just the wrong side of the near post.
Jake McCarthy had a shot tipped over before Welling came close when a Theo Alexandrou shot was blocked out by Jordon Thompson for a corner. He then met the delivery with a goal-bound header that was nodded off the line by Corey Jordan.
They then came even closer when Bramble sent Alexandrou away and he crossed low for Josh Redfearn who scuffed his shot with just goalkeeper Will Buse to beat. Alexandrou continued to pose problems and drew a good save out of Buse then, from the corner, the Weymouth goalkeeper again saved his team when clawing out from under the bar following a goalmouth scramble.
Once more, Buse was tested when a shot by Daniel Martin was blocked into the path of Bramble and his low shot was kept out by the busy custodian.
Keelan O’Connell shot wide first time after a Welling defensive header was unconvincing before an injury time shot by Jake McCarthy was saved comfortably by Berry.
After the half time interval, Weymouth played with more purpose and Welling found it harder to create opportunities despite having the slope in their favour. It took them fifteen minutes to get another shot away when Redfearn’s effort was blocked into Bramble’s path and his effort was saved by Buse.
Alexandrou, who had received treatment for an injury a few minutes earlier, had to give way with Zain Walker replacing him and it did not take long for him to make an impact. Martin picked out Redfearn with a low cross and his shot drew a miraculous save from Buse. The Terras’ goalkeeper was not rewarded, though, as Walker followed up to score.
Linton tested Berry at the near post then Ben Greenwood headed meekly wide from a deep cross by Jordan.
As the clock ran down, Linton broke through and fought off attempts to pull him back and was stopped by a last ditch block tackle by Maxwell Statham. However, from the corner, it ran loose to Thompson who crashed it home via the far post.
It could have been an uncomfortable six additional minutes for the hosts but their goal was not threatened again and they moved up two places in the league to increase their buffer from the bottom four to nine points.
Welling United: Berry, Johnson (Kamara 80), Martin (Perkins 78), Statham, Winfield, Di Trolio, Kennedy, Cornish, Redfearn, Alexandrou (Walker 63), Bramble (Grant 89).
Sub not used: Taylor-Crossdale.
Goalscorers: Di Trolio (8), Walker (68)
Yellow cards: Bramble (45+1 foul), Walker (71 delay of play), Di Trolio (85 delay of play), Grant (90+5 ungentlemanly conduct)
Weymouth: Buse, Jordan, Hamblin, McQuoid (Greenwood 39), Rowan, Thompson, Brooks, McCarthy, Linton, O’Connell (Genesini 76), Goodship.
Subs not used: English, Jones.
Goalscorers: Thompson (89)
Yellow cards: Goodship (58 dissent), Hamblin (90+5 foul)
Referee: Jack Willmore
Assistants: George Barker and Nicholas Garside
Fourth Official: Kane Dempster
Attendance: 479
Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.