Victory for Welling United at home to Burgess Hill Town moved them back up to second place in the Isthmian League Premier Division.

They went in one-nil up at half time, then scored three times in fourteen busy minutes from the hour mark to extend their one hundred percent home run this season to seven matches.

Early on the visitors’ Reggie Ward had a shot blocked out by Philip Ogayi. Lekan Majoyegbe tried to clear but it hit Ben Pope and rebounded back into the grateful arms of Ogayi. At the other end a poor clearance by Luca Cocoracchio went straight to Zak O’Keefe and his low shot was saved by Roco Rees,

Kieran Rowe shot well wide for the visitors before Chris Harris, making full debut for Welling, was not able to hit the target with a header from a Sam Smith corner. It continued to be end to end and a Rowe corner was headed over by Chris Whelpdale from close range.

Moments later, Welling went ahead. Zak O’Keefe’s long throw was half cleared and fell behind Fumnaya Shomotun ten yards out. He spun tightly and fired inside the near upright.

Another Shomotun shot, this time from out wide, stung the palms of Rees before George Vorster scuffed a shot wide for Burgess Hill. Demaray Anyadike then tricked his way to the bye-line and pulled it back to Harris who was denied by a brilliant save by Rees. Smith had the last attempt of the first half but his shot lacked power and was saved easily by the visitors’ goalkeeper.

After the half time break, Cocoracchio headed wide at the far post from a Vorster corner before Shomotun had a shot deflected over.

On the hour mark, Welling went ahead. Zuriel Otseh-Taiwo played it down the line, Shomotun forced his way past a physical challenge, outpaced another defender and cut in to fire a shot that screamed in off the far post.

Nahum Melvin-Lambert came on for Harris and came close immediately with a shot that went inches pas the far upright before he dispossessed Cocoracchio but failed to muster sufficient power to worry Rees. Moments later, the Hillians pulled one back. Hamish Morrison cut in from the right and hit a low cross-shot that appeared to hit a defender as it found its way into the net.

Two minutes later, Welling went back ahead. Jamie Reynolds delivered a free kick and Lekan Majoyegbe rose to head home. Then, after another four minutes, Welling added a fourth. Shomotun got to the bye-line and pulled it back to Melvin-Lambert and he fired home confidently.

Charlie Lambert headed over from a Morrison cross before the visitors scored a consolation goal with two minutes of regulation time remaining. Lambert got ahead of Ogayi as he tried to clear and took a kick from the Welling custodian. A penalty was awarded and Vorster converted.

There were no further chances and Welling claimed a further three points.

Welling United: Ogayi; Otseh-Taiwo, O’Keefe, Majoyegbe, Arthur; Blackman, Smith (Miller-Rodney 71); Anyadike (Brissett 81), Bennett (Reynolds 55), Shomotun (Lucan 81); Harris (Melvin-Lambert 66). Subs not used: None.

Goalscorer: Shomotun (28), (60), Majoyegbe (71), Melvin-Lambert (74)
Yellow card: Bennett (26 foul)

Burgess Hill Town: Rees; Morrison, Strange, Cocoracchio (Barry 75), Ward (Wheeler 61); Daly (Fenelon 61); Vorster, Rowe, Lawson; Whelpdale (King 75), Pope (Lambert 46). Subs not used: None.

Goalscorers: Morrison (69), Vorster pen (88)
Yellow card: Pope (10 foul), Daly (48 foul) Cocoracchio (69 foul)

Referee: Steven Goldup
Assistants: Alex Spoja and Thomas Sansom

Attendance: 656

Images courtesy of Chris Zimmerman