On a heavy pitch, defeat at home to Dorking Wanderers resulted in Welling United dropping into the bottom four of the Vanarama National League South.

Although the Wings gave as good as they got, one early goal was enough for the league leaders to extend their advantage at the top.

In just the seventh minute, Jimmy Muitt got down the right wing and crossed low. Josh Taylor controlled it and twisted and turned to find enough space to lash it high into the net.

Looking for a quick response, James Alabi controlled it well before laying off to Harvey Walker, on full debut, and his low drive brought a good save out of Harrison Foulkes. Another Walker shot then caused controversy when it was blocked by the arm of a defender in the penalty area but appeals from the Welling players fell on deaf ears.

Gene Kennedy then came close for the Wings with a thunderbolt from twenty-five yards that came back out off the bar, then Dave Winfield chanced his arm from a similar distance but was unable to muster enough power to worry Foulkes, and he saved easily.

Muitt was then whistled for offside but kept going before netting and was lucky to escape a yellow card before Welling again came close shortly before the break. As Dan Martin went on a break, he was tripped and got knocked down, but he got up again to continue his run before finding Kennedy. He hit another fierce shot that Foulkes could only beat out as far as TJ Bramble who lashed well over from the edge of the penalty area.

Martin was unable to continue after the break and Jack Burchell replaced him for the second half.

Just as they had in the first half, the visitors started well and Brennan Camp looked sure to score until Riccardo Di Trolio made a last ditch challenge to slow down the shot and make it easy for Rhys Lovett to save. Camp had another chance soon after when meeting Muitt’s diagonal cross with a glancing header that flew beyond the far post.

Jayden Davis slung in a brilliant low cross that was just beyond the reach of Di Trolio. Although Foulkes didn’t hold it, he recovered quickly to claim at the second attempt.

Despite now playing down the slope, Welling struggled to create further chances and Dorking might have made the game safe when Jason Prior evaded his marker from a low Morgan Williams corner but his first time effort flew the wrong side of the near post.

Finally, Muitt was booked for a cynical foul and the Wanderers manager, Marc White, soon replaced him with Josh Brooking.

As the game moved into stoppage time, there was one more big decision that went against Welling when Kennedy was felled in the penalty area but, again, the referee decided that there was no case to answer.

Rod Stringer’s team have a break from league action this week when they host Dover in their Kent F.A. Senior Cup Semi-Final on Tuesday evening.

Welling United: Lovett, Davis, Martin (Burchell 46), Quick, Winfield, Di Trolio, Kennedy, Cornish (Z. Walker 75), Alabi (Redfearn 75), Bramble (Kelly 68), H. Walker (Kamara 60). Subs not used: None.

Goalscorers: None

Yellow cards: Winfield (29 foul), Kennedy (56 foul)

Dorking Wanderers: Foulkes, Camp, Muitt (Brooking 83), Craig, Gallagher, Norville-Williams (McManus 68), Carter, J. Taylor, Prior, Young (Williams 68), Milsom. Sub not used: McManus, Brooking, Moore, Williams, Murphy.

Goalscorer: Taylor (7)

Yellow cards: Muitt (79 foul), Brooking (90 foul)

Referee: Jack Bloxham

Assistants: Dane Johnston and Joshua Langley-Fineing

Fourth Official: Sam Wigington

Attendance: 924

Images courtesy of Dave Budden