After an excellent first half, Welling United disintegrated and fell to defeat at home to Hampton and Richmond Borough.
Some of their football in the opening forty-five minutes was a joy to watch but after the break, playing up the slope, they struggled to match Hampton’s intensity.
Theo Alexandrou shot well wide after Maxwell Statham’s cross was knocked out to him, then he had another effort that was on target but too straight and held easily by Ted Curd in the Hampton goal. Anthony Grant won a tackle on the edge of the penalty area and it fell to TJ Bramble who fired over before Welling went ahead in the tenth minute.
Gene Kennedy found Daniel Martin down the left and he picked out Josh Redfearn with his low cross. Although it was slightly behind him, he controlled it well and spun to shoot home.
Former Wing Kristian Campbell swung in a free kick that Welling goalkeeper Dylan Berry punched away for a corner. Campbell’s delivery was headed towards goal without much menace and Berry decided to punch it out, rather than catch it. It fell kindly to Ibrahim Jalloh and his shot took a big deflection to loop in.
Six minutes later, Welling regained their lead when Martin pulled it back to Kennedy on the edge of the penalty area and he arrowed it into the bottom corner.
Mauro Vilhete and Jalloh exchanged passes on a quick break and the latter’s shot was destined to go just inside the far post, however, Berry got down well to make a good save.
Grant played Redfearn in but he delayed his shot and Dominic Revan got across to block his effort. Then, at the other end, Jalloh created an opening for Mauro Vilhete whose first time shot flew wide.
Vilhete had another chance in first half stoppage time with a header that flew over from Bunmi Babajide’s cross.
Four minutes after the restart, Grant limped off injured and it appeared to have a detrimental effect on the team’s balance as they struggled to play with the same cohesion that they had enjoyed in the opening period. After a further four minutes, Hampton levelled again. Campbell’s inswinging corner was headed home unchallenged by Vilhete.
Bramble headed over from a Martin corner before Marise Evans got away with a caution after kicking out at Dave Winfield. One minute later, the visitors went ahead. Again, it came after an ineffective punch out and Vilhete’s shot ricocheted off a defender to take it inside the far post.
Charles Ondo was brought on to make his first appearance for the Wings as a substitute for Martin with eleven minutes remaining.
Evans had an opportunity for the Beavers when he got on the end of an Archy Taylor clearance but showed a lack of composure and blasted his effort wide. Then Vilhete had a chance to complete his hat-trick when sent through. Berry read it well, though, and came out quickly to make a good block.
Riccardo Di Trolio made a strong block to thwart Evans before Welling were inches away from claiming a point in the last minute of stoppage time when Sahid Kamara’s sweetly struck shot went just beyond the post.
Rod Stringer and Kevin Watson may again have to juggle the team’s formation if both Sam Cornish, who sustained an injury at Torquay, or Grant do not recover in time for Welling’s home game against Boreham Wood on Saturday.
Welling United: Berry, Statham (Johnson 86), Martin (Ondo 79), Burchell, Winfield, Di Trolio, Kennedy, Grant (Walker 49), Redfearn (Kamara 65), Alexandrou, Bramble (Taylor-Crossdale 79).
Subs not used: None.
Goalscorers: Redfearn (10), Kennedy (28).
Yellow cards: Di Trolio (16 foul), Winfield (90+2 foul)
Hampton and Richmond Borough: Curd, A. Taylor, Campbell, Atkinson, Revan, Wiltshire, Babajide (Williams 74), Vilhete, Evans, Keeya, Jalloh.
Subs not used: Byrd, Wall, Hunt, Sorondo.
Goalscorers: Jalloh (22), Vilhete (53), (73).
Yellow cards: Vilhete (15 foul), Evans (72 ungentlemanly conduct), Curd (88 delay of restart), Jalloh (90+5 foul)
Referee: Lisa Benn
Assistants: Harry Phillips and Joshua Evans
Fourth Official: Daniel Blades
Attendance: 566
Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.