Victory for Welling United at St Albans City, and results elsewhere, sent the Wings back to the top of the Isthmian League Premier Division.
Having gone in at half time one-nil up, the visitors might have caved in when the Saints equalised early in the second half, however, Welling showed their mettle by scoring twice more before seeing the match out for a deserved win.
In the early stages, Welling looked lively and Zak O’Keefe headed over from a Sam Smith corner. Kaan Bennett had a shot saved comfortably by Sam Donkin before they went close when Chris Harris met Chris Arthur’s cross with a firm header that came back out off the near upright. Fumnaya Shomotun then found Bennett whose shot was pushed out by Donkin into an area where nobody was able to take advantage.
At the other end, Ollie Knight curled an effort over before the Wings continued their search for an opener and Donkin struggled to punch out another Smith corner from under the bar. Smith’s next delivery from the right was knocked out as far as Tyrell Miller-Rodney and his effort was just too high.
Good skills by Fumnaya Shomotun gave Smith a sight of goal but his shot went the wrong side of the upright before Donkin was forced to tip over a Shomotun cross.
As half time approached, the Welling wide man beat his man and his shot was saved by Donkin before the visitors went ahead a minute before half time. Bennett turned his man just inside the hosts’ half and moved forward and into the penalty area before slotting it into the bottom corner.
Looking for an immediate response, Knight’s free kick picked out Inih Effiong and his header flew wide.
After a quiet opening to the second period, St Albans drew level. Welling goalkeeper Mackenzie Foley brought down Effiong in the eighteen yard area and a penalty was awarded. Although Foley went the right way, Zane Banton’s spot kick found its way into the bottom corner.
Just after the hour mark, the Wings went back ahead. Smith struck a free kick sweetly and Donkin could only parry it out to Shomotun who made no mistake with a close range effort.
Six minutes later, Welling gave themselves breathing space when Bennett showed great technique to volley past a helpless Donkin.
Effiong had a shot deflected wide before Foley held an effort by Mikey Faulkner. The visitors’ goalkeeper had to work slightly harder to make a low save from Zak Sowden-Fletcher before the Wings came close to adding a fourth. Kevin Rivera, who had replaced Bennett, hit a shot that came back out of the post and Jamie Reynolds’ follow-up strike flew just past the other upright.
Foley wasn’t bothered when Effiong skied over then Harris shot wide at the other end. As the game moved into stoppage time Foley did well to hold onto a low Knight cross before Maxwell brought on seventeen year old Colchester United loanee Joshua Adesenya for his Welling debut.
Although Maxwell was happy to let his players enjoy celebrating going the top of the table with theis supporters, they are in action again on Tuesday, away to Whitehawk, so he will be focussed on getting them prepared for another tough encounter.
St Albans City: Donkin; Grante (Anyiminka 70), Sutton, Sowden-Fletcher; Dyer (Brown 70); James, Faulkner (Turner 88), Gray (Moulton 88), Knight, Banton; Effiong. Sub not used: Boxer.
Goalscorer: Banton (52 pen)
Yellow cards: Banton (57 foul), James (87 foul)
Welling United: Foley; Otseh-Taiwo, O’Keefe, Majoyegbe, Arthur; Miller-Rodney, Smith (Reynolds 74); Anyadike (Anthony 69), Bennett (Rivera 69), Shomotun (Cooper 78); Harris (Adesanya 90+1). Subs not used: None.
Goalscorers: Bennett (44), (67), Shomotun (61)
Yellow card: Majoyegbe (45+1 delay of restart)
Referee: Joe Burgess
Assistants: Elora Hardstaff and Joe Wise
Attendance: 1,244