It took a lone goal from Nathan Cooper to decide the Isthmian League Premier Division encounter in Welling United’s favour at Maldon and Tiptree which extended their lead at the top of the table.

Their first visit to Essex this season tested the Wings as the home team’s new manager Stephen Butterworth has started work in overhauling his squad. 

Former Wing Ibby Akanbi had the first clear opportunity when his shot across goal from the edge of the penalty area went beyond the far post with Philip Ogayi struggling to get across. The Welling goalkeeper then cleared unconvincingly straight to George Okoye whose first time shot almost fell into the path of Akanbi before going wide.

Reiss Webber hit a low shot and Ogayi got down well and pushed it away from goal then Rhamar Garrett-Douglas shot well over when Jamie Reynolds charged out to close him down.

Having weathered the storm, the Wings then had a spell of sustained pressure. Zak O’Keefe was the catalyst with a strong run that set up Fumnaya Shomotun and his fierce strike was turned round the post by Maldon goalkeeper Sebastian Thrussell.

Ryan Blackman’s corner fell to Kaan Bennett whose shot was deflected wide with the Welling man claiming a hand or arm was involved. Reynolds then delivered from the other side and Cooper appeared to be brought down by an arm around the throat, however, the officials failed to spot it.

Somehow, Maldon managed to clear a further four inswinging corners before Akanbi had another shot from the edge of the area saved low by Ogayi.

Two further Reynolds corners stretched the Jammers’ defence before Blackman struck a free kick from the left that flew over.

At the break, Welling manager Ryan Maxwell made his first substitution when he replace Blackman with Tyrell Miller-Rodney. However, it was the hosts had the first chance of the second period when Finlay Corrigan fired over. Maxwell made three more changes before the hour mark with Ade Azeez, Sam Smith and Troy Howard replacing Nahum Melvin-Lambert, Reynolds and Shomotun.

Ogayi made another good save to deny Webber before the Wings broke the deadlock, unsurprisingly, from a corner. Smith delivered, it found its way to Demaray Anyadike, and his goalwards effort was poked home by Cooper.

Looking for a quick response, Akanbi struck another shot and Ogayi made a stunning save to keep it out.

Maxwell made his final change with still more than twenty minutes remaining when Zuriel Otseh-Taiwo replaced Chris Arthur. Lekan Majoyegbe shot well over after Smith’s deep free kick picked him out before Ogayi was again called into action with a double handed push away from Akanbi’s thirty-five yard free kick.

Okoye might have done better when losing his man but heading meekly wide, then firing over after Ogayi blocked out another Akanbi shot.

After six and a half minutes of stoppage time the referee blew his whistle to end proceedings and their victory sent Welling three points clear at the top of the league.

Maldon and Tiptree: Thrussell; Garrett-Douglas, Eastman, Dariri, Williams-Bushell: Corrigan (Adebiyi 69), Cole; Okoye, Webber (Brissett 78), Olukolu; Akanbi.

Subs not used: Agyakwa, Pollock.

Goalscorers: None

Yellow cards: Corrigan (68 foul), Eastman 77 foul) 

Welling United: Ogayi; O’Keefe, Majoyegbe, Cooper, Arthur (Otseh-Taiwo 69); Blackman, (Miller-Rodney 46), Reynolds (Smith 58); Anyadike, Bennett, Shomotun (Howard 58); Melvin-Lambert (Azeez 54).

Subs not used: None.

Goalscorer: Cooper (63)

Yellow card: Anyadike (12 dissent)

Referee: Tommy Fleming

Assistants: Hayden Michlmayr and George Lowe

Attendance: 285

Pictures supplied by Steve Blunn.