Although still a tall order, Welling United kept their play-off hopes alive with a regulation victory over Weston-super-Mare.

They started in lively fashion and once they went ahead, they hardly looked back.

After their defeat at Whitehawk a week earlier, manager Jamie Coyle admitted his concern that Welling weren’t creating chances and his change in formation had the desired effect against the Seagulls.

It took them just eight minutes the break the deadlock when Olumide Durojaiye finished after Luke Purnell had beaten out Jack Jebb’s initial effort.

Ryan Hall met a deep cross from Bradley Goldberg at the far post but his volley went wide of the far post.

Goldberg came even closer when his over-head kick flew back off his post before Welling doubled their lead. Hall sent over a corner that Jack Parkinson headed home gleefully.

Hall tried his luck with a free kick that Purnell turned round the post before he delivered a free kick that Coyle headed wide.

Purnell then made an unbelievable save to keep Goldberg out after Jamie Philpot had given him the chance as Welling continued on top.

As the half drew to a close, it got a bit feisty. Weston took offence to a Connor Dymond tackle and Tristan Plummer raised his hands. The yellow card that Dymond was shown seemed harsh however Plummer appeared fortunate to get away with a caution. Then Jarrad Welch made a nasty challenge on Callum Driver that the referee didn’t even deem to be a foul.

When the two teams came out after the interval, Weston came out with a little more intensity and after Bailey Vose had saved a Welch effort at the second attempt, they reduced the arrears. There seemed little danger when the ball came out to Welch, but his 25 yard effort flew into the top corner.

However, Welling restored their two goal advantage in less than two minutes. Substitute Adam Coombes found Jebb and although there appeared to be a suspicion of hand-ball as Jebb controlled it, the officials were unimpressed and Jebb slotted into the bottom corner.

Luck-less Goldberg saw an excellent volley crash back off the bar before Driver played him through but he fired just wide.

Weston tried to claw their way back into the game in the latter stages but they were reduced to long range shots that failed to trouble Vose and Welling can now prepare for their Tuesday night home game with Bath City knowing that they still have an outside chance of extending their season.

Welling United: Vose, Driver, Hall, Parkinson, Okuonghae, Coyle, Dymond (Coombes 46), Durojaiye, Philpot (Healy 65), Goldberg, Jebb (Nanetti 81).

Subs not used: Johnson, Jefford.

Weston-super-Mare: Purnell, Parsons, Greenslade (Goodall 74), Pope, Morris-Edwards, Welch, Diallo, Lee, Plummer (Hunter 60), Scott (Llewellyn 71).

 

Welling United:

Goalscorers: Durojaiye (8), Parkinson (24), Jebb (57)

Yellow cards: Dymond, Parkinson.

Red cards: None

 

Weston-super-Mare:

Goalscorers: Welch (55)

Yellow cards: Parsons, Greenslade, Plummer, Hunter.

Red cards: None

 

Referee: Ian Fissenden

Assistants: Kane Dempster and Jack Bonnick

 

Attendance: 491

 

Welling star player: Bradley Goldberg

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.