Two first half goals proved to be sufficient for Cray Wanderers to beat struggling Welling United in the Isthmian League Premier Division.

In what is expected be Rod Stringer’s last game at the helm of the Wings, his team failed to give him the send off for which he hoped. They were poor at the back and anonymous up front.

Meanwhile Cray, who had been humbled eight-one at Folkestone Invicta in midweek, gave their manager Tim O’Shea the bounce-back that he would have demanded, and could have won by a bigger scoreline.

It took the Wands just four minutes to go ahead. Having twice failed to clear, Welling could only knock it out to the edge of the penalty area and Harry Waldock met it with a sweet volley that flew into the back of the net.

Leo Young had Welling’s first effort with a low shot that was saved well by Harry Seaden on his return from injury. That followed good work from Alfie Paxman and Aaron Williams-Bushell.

Waldock then missed a glorious chance to add his second when Chris Dickson went on a strong run before finding lively substitute Lateef Adaja. His shot was blocked out by Welling goalkeeper Freddie Norman as far as Waldock and he fired over with the goal at his mercy.

Femi Akinwande hit a shot on the turn for the Wings, but with no power and it rolled wide before the visitors doubled their lead. Dickson again sent Adaja through and he played a diagonal pass across the face of goal for Alex Hernandez to force home at the far post.

Josh Williams crossed but it was too high for Hernandez and he could only head it over before he missed another chance to make it three-nil. Adaja burst into the penalty area and was brought down by Luke O’Neill. Hernandez blasted it straight down the middle but it struck Norman’s trailing foot and rebounded out.

Adaja again fired across the goal just before half time but Dickson was unable to reach it to poke it home.

After the break, Dickson hit a shot that lacked power and Norman saved easily before Seaden made a much more unorthodox stop when kicking out a direct Paxman free kick. Another Welling free kick was cleared and Williams broke away before easing inside and unleashing a shot that came back out off the bar.

Once again Adaja was in the thick of the action with a shot flew over before Norman saved from Dickson after Williams had caused problems with a dangerous cross.

At the other end Eze Ebuzoeme’s snap-shot from fifteen yards flew wide before John Ufuah turned his man and crossed just out of Akinwande’s reach. Jonah Walker had one last effort easily saved by Seaden before the game drew to a close.

Victory for the Wands moved them one place up the table to sixth while Welling remain in penultimate place, six points adrift of safety.

Welling United: Norman; Apat, O’Neill (Ebuzoeme 46). Majoyegbe; Young; Williams-Bushell (Redfearn 46), Thomas, Paxman, Walker; Ufuah, Akinwande (Addy 79).

Subs not used: Simmons, Boxall.

Goalscorers: None

Yellow cards: Ufuah (31 foul), O’Neill (41 foul), Young (80 foul)

Cray Wanderers: Seaden; Owiredu-Gyamera, Taylor, Sutton, Morgan (Keto 90); Waldock, Raymond; Williams, Hernandez (Isiaka 46), Nzala (Adaja 19); Dickson.

Subs not used: Kardel, Hand.

Goalscorers: Waldock (4), Hernandez (34)

Yellow cards: Raymond (76 foul)

Referee: Robert Alderton

Assistants: Liam Dawson and Charlie Roberts

Attendance: 1,415

Pictures supplied by Keith Gillard.