Defeat at Aveley ended Welling United’s one hundred percent Isthmian League Premier Division start to 2026.
Two near post headed goals by Chris Harris were enough for the hosts to strengthen their position in fourth place in the table while the Wings remained third from bottom, five points adrift of safety.
Neither side created much in the first quarter of the match with just a shot by Aveley’s Jesse Nwabueze that flew into the side netting getting the spectators interested.
Matt Johnson’s long throws caused the Wings problems and Ryan Henshaw got on the end of one, only to head it beyond the far post. Ryan Charles flicked a header wide before Welling had an opportunity when John Ufuah met a deep free kick by Sam Oguntayo but was unable to guide his header on target.
Another long throw by Johnson was headed over by Harris after he made space by shoving Jack Thomas in the back, unnoticed by the referee before the Wings had the last chance of the first period when a slick move sent Ufuah away down the left. He pulled it back to Troy Howard whose shot was blocked and Ayman El-Mogharbel’s follow up flew over.
After the break, a deep Oguntayo cross picked out Ade Azeez whose downward header was well saved by Rylee Mitchell before a Charles half-volley from twenty-five yards flew wide.
Ten minutes into the second half, the hosts went ahead when Harris met a corner at the near post and headed home.
Almost immediately, Welling had a chance to equalise with a two on one attack. Troy Howard raced away but squared just behind Ufuah and by the time he had stopped and controlled it, a defender got across causing him to rush his shot wide.
Two Aveley substitutes were involved in their next move when Toby Aromolaran found Nwabueze and he laid it off to George Saunders who fired over. Welling goalkeeper Mackenzie Foley then saved comfortably from a Harris header.
Nine minutes were left on the clock when Welling levelled. Azeez brought it down well before finding substitute Antonio Morgan on the left and his low cross was turned home by fellow replacement Bradley Sach.
Aromolaran danced his way into the Welling penalty area and looked to have slotted it home, however, Foley got down to make a stunning save, then a deep corner fell for Harry Haysom who thrashed his shot wide.
In the final minute of regulation time, Aveley went back ahead. Nwabueze went on a long run down the left hand side unchecked before his near post cross was headed home by Harris.
This time there was no coming back for Welling and they will need to re-group ahead of their big game with Hashtag United next Saturday.
Aveley: Mitchell; Tinubu (Aromolaran 74), Henshaw, Haysom, Critchley; Johnson; Peters (Church 79), Robinson (Saunders 54), Charles: Nwabueze, Harris.
Subs not used: Muldoon, Reynolds.
Goalscorer: Harris (55), (90)
Yellow cards: None
Welling United: Foley; Majoyegbe, Gunner, Arthur; Currie (Bangura 46), Thomas (Addy 60), El-Mogharbel (Black 67), Oguntayo (Morgan 67); Howard (Sach 71), Ufuah; Azeez.
Subs not used: None.
Goalscorers: None
Yellow cards: Currie (23 foul), Majoyegbe (45+1 foul), Thomas (48 foul)
Referee: Fabio Roque
Assistants: Stephen Hughes and Jordan Whitworth
Attendance: 491