Once again, Welling United got off to the worst possible start by conceding early when they visited Oxford City.

That gave them a mountain to climb and that became insurmountable when goalkeeper Tom Smith dislocated his shoulder and was unable to continue meaning that outfield player Kristian Campbell donned the jersey and gloves.

Daniel Carr made his Welling debut but he had barely settled when his team went behind. A cross was laid back by Elliott Benyon to Joe Iaciofano who finished coolly.

Che Krabbendam had a shot that was saved comfortably by before Nana Owusu went on a long run down the right wing. He then cut back however, he undid all his good work with a wild shot. Owusu found Iaciofano as Oxford continued to probe and his cross was headed down and up by Benyon and it clipped the bar on the way over.

Krabbendam then made a good interception and went on a long run and he found Carr but his shot was blocked wide for a corner. Campbell was off target with a free kick from just outside the penalty area the Krabbendam fired over from a tight angle.

Zac McEachran played in Iaciofano however Smith was down sharply to make the save but it was Welling who had the last chance of the half when Krabbendam broke and shot but Ben Dudzinski made the save.

As they did in the first half, Welling started the second period slowly and Smith made a brilliant save to keep out Reece Fleet’s curler. From the corner Smith went down badly and while he was on the ground, Owusu shot only for Campbell to head off the line and over. After a good six minutes of treatment for Smith, it was clear that he could not continue and Dylan Pepe came on with Campbell going in goal. He was tested immediately with an inswinging corner but he called for it and caught it confidently above his head.

Josh Ashby had a shot saved by Campbell then Benyon headed wide. Harry Kyprianou was also off target with a header from an Ashby corner before Oxford scored the crucial second. Ashby slung in another corner and Campbell called for it again. This time he was unable to cling on to it and it fell kindly for Benyon who stabbed it home.

Ade Shokunbi hit a fierce drive to draw a great save out of Duszinski but Oxford had the last word when Harvey Bradbury headed home from George Harmon’s cross.. 

Oxford City: Dudzinski, Asare, Harmon, Ashby, Matsuzaka (Bancroft,77), Kyprianou (Davies 71), Iaciofano, Fleet, Benyon (Bradbury 77), McEachran, Owusu.

Subs not used: Rowan, Coyle.

Goalscorers: Iaciofano (4), Benyon (70), Bradbury (85)

Yellow cards: Ashby

Red cards: None

Welling United: Smith (Pepe 51), Barnes, Ezennolim, Durojaiye, Perkins, Pearce, Shokunbi, Stevenson (Sinclair 66), Carr, Krabbendam (Akinyemi 85), Campbell.

Subs not used: Saunders-Henry, Brown.

Goalscorers: None

Yellow cards: Durojaiye

Red cards: None

Referee: Darren Rogers

Assistants: Steven Plane and Daniel Statham