Following on from their victory earlier in the week, Welling United were hoping to start a run but were thwarted by promotion chasing St Albans City in an entertaining match despite the awful weather conditions.

Both teams came out smartly and Welling almost went ahead in the first minute. Che Ezennolim whipped in an excellent cross that just evaded Dipo Akinyemi and the late arriving Joe Muscatt could only blast it wide.

Having escaped that chance, the visitors burst to the other end and Shaun Jeffers crossed to the far post for Alex Lankshear, arriving late, to slam home.  

Rather than feeling sorry for themselves, Welling searched for an equaliser and achieved it with still less than five minutes gone. Muscatt picked out Danny Parish from Welling’s first corner and he rose high to power home his header.

Ade Shokunbi had a near post shot saved by Michael Johnson, as the two teams traded blows, and Jack Sims turned Romeo Akinola’s effort round the post. Akinola did net from close range shortly after but it was disallowed for a foul on Sims.

Akinyemi shot powerfully but well wide from a long way out then Akinola had a great chance but hit his effort meekly, allowing Sims to save. Parish drove cleanly, but too straight, and Johnson saved before the Wings went ahead. Yannis Drais slid Ade Shokunbi through and he rounded Johnson before finishing calmly.

However just as Welling had done earlier St Albans equalised almost immediately. A rebound fell kindly for Zame Banton and he got to the bye-line and he pulled it back to Akinola, and this time he made no mistake with a great finish. 

There was still time for Maxwell Statham to shoot wide for Welling before the first half ended.

After the interval St Albans changed to a flat back four rather than three centre halves and wing backs but there was still little to choose between the teams and it was the hosts who had the first clear cut chance. 

Parish met another Muscatt corner with a header, Johnson could only punch it straight out to him and he volleyed towards the far post only for Lankshear to head it off the line.

Banton shot into the side netting from a tight angle before the visitors broke the deadlock. A quick free kick sent Banton away and again he headed to the bye-line before finding Joy Mukena who gave Sims no chance.

Peter Taylor made a change bringing on Mason Saunders-Henry for Shokunbi and it almost paid immediate dividends. The Welling substitute hit a fierce drive that Johnson saved brilliantly. Shortly afterwards Johnson was again called upon to save from Saunders-Henry but this time it was more straight-forward.

Although the Wings continued to probe St Albans game management made it difficult for the hosts and only an Akinyemi shot that flew wide threatened the visitors goal.

Taylor will hope that the players who were unable to start this game will be in contention again when Welling travel to Chelmsford City next Saturday.

Welling United: Sims, Statham, Ezennolim, Durojaiye, Perkins (Barnes 74), Penney, Muscatt, Shokunbi (Saunders-Henry 69), Akinyemi, Parish, Drais (Stevenson 60).

Subs not used: Campbell, Richards.

Goalscorers:  Parish (5), Shokunbi (42)

Yellow cards: Statham, Perkins

St Albans City: Johnson, Banton, Lankshear, Jones, Mukena,  Adebiyi, Brown (Dawson 68), Wiltshire, Jeffers, Akinola (Weiss 68), Goddard (Diedhiou 86).

Unused substitutes: Sole, Tokarczyk.

Goalscorers: Lankshear (2), Akinola (40), Mukena (65)

Yellow cards: Adebiyi, Brown, Lankshear

Referee: Richie Watkins

Assistants: Daniel Proctor and Ollie Davies

Attendance: 493

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.