Improving Welling United eased their way out of the relegation zone with a comfortable win against Concord Rangers.

It was the third meeting between the two teams this season, and the third victory for Welling against the Beachboys.

Adam Coombes appears to enjoy his games against them too. He scored a hat-trick in the away league game in September and repeated the feat in the return fixture.

Having started brightly, Welling went behind when Jordan Chiedozie was given far too much room on the edge of the area and he fired home from the edge of the penalty area.

Rickie Hayles headed wide for Welling before they levelled.

George Oakley got on the end of a good Welling only to be floored by a bad challenge from Tony Stokes. Referee David Spain awarded a penalty and Coombes sent Barry Vose the wrong way from the spot.

Harry Crawford put a header just wide before Concord enjoyed their best spell of the match.

Steve Cawley had a long shot beaten out by Chris Lewington before the Welling custodian saved from Lyle Della-Verde.

That was as good as it got for Concord though and Welling were soon moving the ball around well again and Oakley, Danny Waldren and Christian Nanetti all had chances before the break.

Four minutes after the interval, Welling went ahead when Oakley crossed from the right and Coombes rose to steer his header inside the far post.

Oakley, Coombes and Crawford all came close as Welling continued to play some enterprising football and it was no more than they deserved when Coombes completed his hat-trick.

There was a lot to do when he received a pass in the area, but his strength and trickery gave him the space to fire home.

More good Welling football created further openings and Coombes might have had a fourth but fired over before Vose made a good save from Crawford.

Coombes was substituted in injury time to take an ovation from the Welling supporters having scored seven goals in the last three weeks and twenty six in all tournaments this season.

Jamie Day, Welling’s manager, was delighted afterwards “Really pleased with the boys. I thought they was first class. Sloppy goal but other than that I thought for large periods of the game we was on the front foot and deserved to get the three points.

“Fantastic for Coombesy to get a hat-trick but the work rate and desire, like I’ve said all along, has been excellent and that’s something that’s got us the results as well.

“I thought for the majority of the game we played some really good football and we got caught a little bit cold with the goal but again showed good character to come back into it.”

Talking about Concord, Day said “They’ve been on a really good run, apart from the Trophy game I think they’ve won three or four on the bounce. They beat Hampton the other week. We knew it was going to be a tough game.

“We defended really well as a group and we looked threatening going forward so full credit to the boys. They’re a good side that are on a good run but we’ve made them look ordinary today and that’s down to our players.”

 

Welling United: Lewington, Fish, Brown, Hatton, Francis, Hayles, Nanetti, Waldren (Joseph-Dubois 90), Crawford (Fuseini 82), Coombes (Williams 90), Oakley.

Subs not used: Agu, Johnson.

 

Concord Rangers: Vose, Sirdlestone, Wyatt, Dowie Norman, Collins, Della-Verde, White, Chiedozie, Cawley, Stokes (Laucys 80).

Subs not used: Gordon, King, Ekipteta, Bowles.

 

Referee: David Spain

Assistants: Michael Marsh and Isaac Searle.

 

Attendance: 402

 

Welling star player: Adam Coombes

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.