George Evans scored the only goal as Welling United won a tight pre-season friendly at Herne Bay.

Cameron Andrews had an early opportunity for the Wings when a good move down the right gave him an opening but Herne Bay goalkeeper Joe Coleman was out quickly to block the attempted clip past him. Kamani McFarlane then got on the end of a deep cross for the hosts but his header was claimed comfortably by Welling’s trialist goalkeeper.

Ruben Shakpoke came desperately close for Welling with a fierce drive that smashed against the crossbar, shaking the whole framework of the goal, before McFarlane had a powerful effort at the other end that drew an excellent save from the visitors’ young goalkeeper.

Another opportunity fell to Andrews when a free kick by Greg Cundle crashed into the defensive wall but was recycled and played out to Welling’s only survivor from last season however Coleman was again out sharply to smother.

Frankie Smith arrived late for Herne Bay but shot straight at the Wings’ stopper before Shakpoke sent Evans through and his shot was tipped past the post by Coleman.

Early in the second period, Andrews had a free kick pushed round the post before Alfie Bloomfield nicked a miss-directed pass from a Welling defender but shot beyond the far post.

In the sixty-third minute, the deadlock was broken when Evans’ got on the end of a trialist’s through ball with a well timed run before placing it calmly into the bottom corner. 

Jordon Abagio fired over for the hosts, then Bloomfield had a shot that was diverted past the post by the boot of Welling’s goalkeeper as Herne Bay looked for a leveller. It wasn’t to come, though, and the Wings held on without further alarm for the last fifteen minutes.

Herne Bay: Coleman, Sessegnon, Tyrie, Friend, Christie-Law, Ababio, Smith, Bloomfield, Haysman, McFarlane.

Substitutes: Burford, Procopi, Gilbert, Hill, Saunders, Oliver, Davies.

Goals: None

Welling United: Trialist A, Trialist B, Majoyegbe, Simmons, Cundle, Trialist C, Penn, Shakpoke. Paxman, Andrews, Evans.

Substitutes: Huk, Sinai, J. Leahy, Trialist D, Ufuah, Trialist E, Wilhelm.

Goal: Evans (63)

Pictures supplied by Kieran North.