Brad Quinton’s first home league game as manager of Welling United ended in an important victory for his Wings over Hungerford Town.

It was a game that ebbed and flowed with Welling twice going ahead through Anthony Cook and Cameron James only to be pegged back by Liam Ferdinand and Matt Jones. However, when Diaz Wright put the Wings back in front with four minutes remaining there was no way back for the Crusaders.

Coming into the game, Hungerford were bottom of the Vanarama National South with Welling one place above but both teams gave everything for their management and supporters.

Eight minutes had passed when Welling went ahead. Dipo Akinyemi, restored to the starting line up, did well to knock it down to Cook and his first time shot took a deflection on its way into the net.

Nathan Green then sent a rasping drive over having been set up by Aaron Cosgrave’s lay off.

However, after struggling to get into the game for the first fifteen minutes, the visitors started to ask questions. Bradley Webb got in behind but Dan Wilks made a great save. Moments later, Hungerford drew level. Ralph Graham got up well to send a header crashing against the bar and Ferdinand was first to the rebound to fire home.

Cook had another chance but side footed over after Cosgrave created the opening before Welling went back ahead. James went on a surging run and picked his spot from the edge of the area with a fine finish.

Ferdinand again came close to levelling when getting in behind but Wilks was out quickly to make an excellent block. Matt Jones then tried his luck from a long way out but Wilks got back well to push it out and recover to reclaim it.

Akinyemi missed a great chance to claim his first Welling goal just before the break. Cook went on a run and it fell to Akinyemi ten yards out but he lashed it over.

After the interval, Adam Siviter made an excellent save from a fierce Green drive after which the game became scrappy with chances few and far between.

Wright fired wide for Welling before they were stunned when the Crusaders levelled with less than fifteen minutes remaining. A cross was headed out and it appeared that the danger had passed but it fell to Jones and he shot low into the bottom corner from twenty-five yards.

Korrey Henry saw his floaty header come back off the crossbar before Welling went ahead again with four minutes remaining.

Having just come on, eighteen year old Bradley Rolt and Henry were involved in the move which saw the ball come out to Connor Dymond. His driven in low cross was met by Wright at the far post and he bundled home gleefully.

Welling might have scored again deep into injury time when James sent Philip Roberts away but he fired well over when well placed but it mattered little as the final whistle was blown soon after.

Welling United: Wilks, Dymond, Green, Crichlow-Noble, Joseph, Wright, James, Cosgrave (Rolt 82), Akinyemi (Henry 69), Goldberg (Roberts 82), Cook.

Subs not used: McCallum, Johnson.

Goalscorers: Cook (8), James (27), Wright (86)

Hungerford Town: Siviter, Tomlinson, Mike Jones, Smith, Jarra, Rusby, Graham (Lynch 59), Matt Jones (McGrory 82), Ferdinand, Bailey (Akers 59), Webb.

Subs not used: Johnson-Schuster, Berry-Hargreaves. 

Goalscorers: Ferdinand (19), Matt Jones (76)

Referee: Callum Walchester

Assistants: Paul Burnham and Mark Chalkley

Attendance: 564