There was disappointment for Welling United at home to Hashtag United in the Isthmian League Premier Division.

At the start of the day, Welling were five points behind the visitors with a game in hand so a victory would have been a big step in their fight against relegation. Sadly, they didn’t rise to the occasion and were beaten two-nil.

They could have gone behind in the first few minutes when a defensive mistake allowed Jaden Brissett an unchallenged shot at goal but he wasted it when blasting high over the bar.

Mackenzie Foley then made a triple save. Jeremy Santos shot didn’t look threatening until it hit a divot and flew up and the Welling goalkeeper did well to beat it out. However, it fell to Luke May-Parrott whose shot was blocked brilliantly. It then came out to Praise Ogbebor and his effort was turned around the post by the quick to react custodian.

Brissett cut in and launched it into Danson Park after May-Parrott had laid it off to him then Max Cornhill couldn’t get over a Santos corner and it floated harmlessly wide.

Finally, after nearly half an hour, Welling created some opportunities. Ade Azeez held it up well before turning into the penalty area. He then did well to stay on his feet despite a defender having a nibble at his ankle, before he got a shot away. Although his shot appeared to be going wide, it took a slight deflection for the Wings’ first corner of the afternoon.

Azeez again did well to create space in the penalty area and his close range shot was saved brilliantly by Jack Giddens. Unfortunately for the Welling striker, it came back and struck his leg and went out for a goal kick.

He then combined with Troy Howard and squared to Bradley Sach whose shot went just beyond the far post before Dean Gunner sent Howard away down the right and he fired across goal but beyond the upright.

Hopes that Welling would take the momentum into the second half were dashed immediately when May-Parrott broke clear and had a fierce drive tipped over by Foley. Santos delivered the subsequent corner and a Wings defender flicked it over the Welling goalkeeper to an unmarked Thomas Anderson. His header from point blank range hit the post and went in.

Four minutes later, a communication breakdown in the Welling defence presented Ogbebor with an open goal and he tucked it away without fuss.

After that, the visitors sat back and were not unduly troubled. They should have added a third when Parrott-May set up Matthew Wooldridge who had a clear sight of goal only to snatch at his shot and drag it well wide.

Nothing was created at the other end and Hashtag saw out the rest of the match without alarm.

Ryan Maxwell, Welling’s manager, will be looking for a reaction in the team’s next match, away to runaway league leaders Folkestone Invicta.

Welling United: Foley; Majoyegbe, Gunner, Arthur, Oguntayo (El-Mogharbel 56); Thomas; Howard (Morgan 73), Black (Bangura 58), Reynolds (O’Keefe 87); Sach (Ufuah 56), Azeez. Subs not used: None.

Goalscorers: None

Yellow cards: Azeez (49 foul), Ufuah (59 simulation), El-Mogharbel (76 foul)

Hashtag United: Giddens; Wooldridge, Wilson, Ayoola (T. Anderson 44), Smith; Wells; Brissett (Rusoke 90), Cornhill, Santos (Shokunbi 66), Ogbebor; May-Parrott (Kouassi 82). Subs not used: None.

Goalscorers: T. Anderson (47), Ogbebor (51)

Yellow cards: None

Referee: Liam Botten

Assistants: William Rough and Matthew Williams

Attendance: 673

Images courtesy of Peter Jozwiak