Poor defending from dead ball situations proved costly for Welling United in their Isthmian League Premier Division defeat at St Albans City.

Although Welling picked up the pace in the second half, and finished strongly, they were unable to find the equaliser that they probably deserved.

After a cagey opening Jasper Mather had a chance for the hosts when a low corner appeared to take a bobble causing it to sit up for him. He struck it sweetly but Kai McKenzie-Lyle got down well to save. Former Wing Alex Dyer then struck a shot that the Welling goalkeeper palmed out.

At the other end, a Luke O’Neill shot deflected off the wall and flew over before a Welling training ground routine almost paid dividends when O’Neill passed a corner to Eze Ebuzoeme who squared to Jack Paxman. He took aim but fired over.

Five minutes before half time, the hosts went ahead. Lewis Payne delivered a corner that wasn’t cut out allowing Leo Sery to get in front of his marker to hook home a low volley.

Early in the second period Sery fired over and Sam Smart shot into the side netting before Rod Stringer made his first substitution when bringing on Greg Cundle for John Ufuah. O’Neill then delivered a free kick that Jack James was relieved to knock over his own crossbar.

Eleven minutes after the restart, the Wings equalised. They moved it around well to drag the Saints’ defenders out of position and Ebuzoeme found space, ten yards out, to fire home.

However, they were only able to hold onto the lead for two minutes. Troy Perez-Duah delivered a free kick and Michael Bostwick easily beat his man to head towards the far side. Although McKenzie-Lyle got his hand to it, he was unable to keep it out.

Twenty minutes after coming on, Cundle fell awkwardly on the side-line and dislocated his shoulder to such an extent that he had to be taken to hospital. He was replaced by Aaron Williams-Bushell.

Former Dartford striker Alex Wall, a St. Albans substitute, had a shot palmed wide by McKenzie-Lyle then Welling failed to clear a corner properly and it fell for Bostwick who fired over.

Another O’Neill free kick caused problems for the hosts and it was knocked out as far as Christian Scott who sliced his shot over before Tom Leahy went close with a shot that beat goalkeeper Magnus Norman but Bostwick was on hand to clear it off the line. O’Neill then found Josh Redfearn whose shot on the turn from twenty yards out wasn’t struck cleanly and went wide.

While Welling threw players forward, they were in danger of being caught on the break and Harrison Smith drew a good save out of McKenzie-Lyle with Wall screaming for a square pass.

In stoppage time Leahy again went close when getting on the end of O’Neill’s cross and his close range shot was saved brilliantly by Norman. Welling had one last chance when Paxman crossed deep to Lekan Majoyegbe. Although he got up well, he headed wide from inside the six yard box.

As a result of the defeat, Welling dropped to twentieth place in the table and have London Senior Cup and FA Trophy ties to navigate before they return to league action.

St. Albans City: Norman; Sweet, James, Bostwick. Page; Dyer; Smart (Gauthier 57), Kone, Perez-Duah (Jennings 76), Mather (Wall 66), Sery (Smith 66). Sub not used: Sippetts

Goalscorer: Sery (40), Bostwick (58)

Yellow cards: None

Welling United: McKenzie-Lyle; O’Neill, Dobbs, Majoyegbe, Adjetey-Brew; Allen (Scott 72): Leahy, Ebuzoeme, Paxman, Ufuah (Cundle 50 (Williams-Bushell 70)); Akinwande (Redfearn 72). Sub not used: McIntosh.

Goalscorer: Ebuzoeme (56)

Yellow cards: None

Referee: Kyfer Mayhew

Assistants: Thomas Hood and Benjamin Twitchings

Attendance: 1,614

Images courtesy of Peter Jozwiak