Early season difficulties continued for Welling United as they stumbled to a late goal Isthmian League Premier Division defeat at home to Lewes.

Seven minutes remained when Kaan Bennett scored the only goal from outside the penalty area. In truth, it seemed that it would take something special to separate the two teams who cancelled each other out.

In the opening few minutes, Welling had a couple of half chances before Billie Clark got in for Lewes down the left hand side. He hit a shot that took a bobble and Freddie Norman was alert to make a good save. Clark again hit a low effort that was saved more comfortably before his opposite number, Louis Rogers, was called into action. Jack Paxman sent Ruben Shakpoke through but Rogers came out quickly to dive at his feet and push it away.

Tom Leahy departed with an injury and had to be replaced by Greg Cundle and he was soon in action when pulling back to James Dyer and he drew a diving save out of Rogers. Another Dyer shot, soon after, was straighter and the Lewes goalkeeper saved more comfortably.

Just before half time, Lewes missed a great chance when Finlay Chadwick’s deep corner picked out former Wing Ian Gayle at the far post and he headed wide from close range.

Charlie Walker was brought on by Lewes manager Bradley Pritchard for the start of the second half and he had a shot deflected wide before his next effort, on the spin, flew straight into the arms of Norman.

Shakpoke then had a great opportunity at the other end when Scott Simmons exchanged passes with Paxman before finding the Welling striker inside the penalty area. Although he had lost his marker, he chose to hit it first time on the turn and it flew just wide.

Simmons again combined well with Paxman down the right and struck a low effort that was saved by Rogers before Chadwick tried to catch Norman off his line with a forty yard free kick that sailed over.

Once again, Chadwick tried his luck from distance, and his shot took a kick off the pitch and Norman dived to make a brilliant save.

However, he was powerless to keep out the goal that won it for the Rooks. A corner was headed out as far as Bennett and his sweet strike arrowed into the bottom corner.

There is no evening match for the Wings in the next week so Lee Martin will be working extensively ahead of two matches in the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Welling United: Norman; Williams-Bushell, Dobbs, Majoyegbe, Simmons; Hamilton (J. Leahy 78); Ufuah, Paxman, Dyer (Holley 49); T. Leahy (Cundle 31), Shakpoke. Subs not used: Sinai, Penn.

Goalscorers: None

Yellow card: Holley (66 foul), Paxman (90+2)

Lewes: Rogers; Bowry (Gayle 20), Burchell, Asiedu; Iandolo, Chadwick; Bernal, West (Christmas 73), Bennett, Clark (Erskine 73); Figuera (Walker 46). Sub not used: Morgan.

Goalscorer: Bennett (83)

Yellow cards: Chadwick (35 foul), Christmas (85 dissent). Iandolo (90+1 foul)

Referee: Callum Peter

Assistants: Daniel Whale and Tom Flanagan

Attendance: 480