Five unanswered goals shared between Ade Azeez and Stefan Payne enabled Welling United to thrash in-form Oxford City.

Coming into the game Oxford had won their last four without conceding but they had no answer to Welling’s firepower.

It was the first time that Welling scored five in a league game since New Year’s Day 2017 and only their second victory by more than one goal in three years.

Warren Feeney’s team came out quickly and scored inside the first ten minutes for the second consecutive game. Aaron Barnes clipped a clever ball through for Azeez to feed upon, and he put the Wings ahead with an emphatic finish.

Klaidi Lolos cut in but the Hoops’ leading scorer shot straight at Myles Roberts who held on comfortably. Soon after, Welling were back on the attack. Taylor Maloney swung in a free kick and Amadou Kassarate rose high, but his header went wide.

Payne then went close when Antony Papadopoulos caught an Oxford player dithering and sent the Welling striker away. He cut back and measured his shot, but it hit the bar on the way over before the Wings increased their lead. Azeez was found just inside the area and opened his body before placing it into the bottom corner.

Lewis Miccio had Oxford’s best chance from Lewis Coyle’s cross, but Roberts made an outstanding diving save from the firm header. Moments later, Welling scored again. Chi Ezzenolim put in a deep free kick, Kassarate flicked it on, and it fell into the path of Payne who fired home.

As Oxford reeled, Welling scored again just before the break. Payne rose at the far post, nodded back across goal and Azeez was there to complete his hat-trick from close range.

Early in the second half Jean Baptiste-Fischer shot wide of the near post for Oxford before they were awarded a free kick just outside the penalty area, but Coyle fired well over.

Kassarate drew a brilliant save out of Ben Dudzinski with a header from a Maloney free kick. Then any hopes that Oxford had of getting back into the game were scuppered by Charlie Rowan’s nasty challenge on Manny Parry for which he was shown a red card.

Papadopoulos shot over for Welling and Lolos shot directly at Roberts at the other end before Welling scored their fifth. Maloney sent over another excellent cross and Payne was left unmarked to head home.

In the closing minutes, Payne raced through looking for his hat-trick, but Dudzinski made another excellent save. It came out to Papadopoulos who tried to side-foot home, but the Oxford goalkeeper stuck out a foot and, somehow, diverted it away.

Latrell Humphrey-Ewers had one last attempt at scoring a consolation goal for the visitors, but he shot wide of the near post.

Welling United: Roberts, Barnes (Hyde), Ezennolim, Dunne, Sendles-White, Parry, Maloney, Papadopoulos, Azeez (Francis 58), Payne, Kassarate (Elito).

Sub not used: Dickens, McKenzie-Lyle.

Goalscorers: Azeez (9), (31), (44), Payne (40),

Yellow cards: None

Oxford City: Dudzinski; Harrison, Miccio (Muchchetere 56), Ashby, Carroll, Rowan, Williams-Bushell, McEachran, Lolos (Humphrey-Ewers 71), Coyle, Baptiste-Fischer (Burley 71).

Subs not used: Iaciofano, Grantham.

Goalscorers: None

Yellow cards: Rowan, Williams-Bushell

Red card: Rowan

Referee: Stephen Parkinson

Assistants: Laurentiu Hantea and Michael Hayden

Attendance: 965

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.