Two teams playing a similar style of football threatened to cancel each other out but it was Worthing who claimed the three points at the expense of Welling United.

In the early stages, the clubs sparred for openings and neither had a shot until Dominic Odusanya was well off target for Welling from long range.

Three times, Worthing got down the right wing to the bye-line and pulled it back but Welling cleared each time. Other than that, the hosts posed little threat in the first half.

Antony Papadopoulos hit a first time shot that skimmed the roof of the net before Welling goalkeeper Ben Winterbottom made a good save from Juan Luque after Ricky Agular had created the opening.

Jephte Tanga had an effort blocked into the path of James Vaughan who shot well over and Welling continued to probe with Lewis White having an effort blocked against his former club.

Worthing’s Joel Colbran fired well over from distance before a long range shot by Odusanya failed to trouble Rocco Rees, the Rebels’ goalkeeper.

After the half time break, Cameron Green had a shot blocked before Papadopoulos sent Kareem Isiaka through but Rees got down well to make the save. Green then found Papadopoulos who created an opening for Tanga, who fired over.

However, it was the hosts who went ahead. Bailey Smith burst into the penalty area and Jack Burchell leant on him resulting in a penalty to the hosts.

Substitute Ollie Pearce stepped up and netted, sending Winterbottom the wrong way.

Agular’s shot from twenty five yards was too straight and Winterbottom held it comfortably.

Papadopoulos then fired over for the Wings after Lachlan Byrd headed Odusanya’s free kick into his path.

Danny Cashman had a looping volley saved easily by Winterbottom before Worthing made the points safe. Smith pulled it back, and Pearce completely missed his shot.

However, his attempt wrong-footed the Welling defence and Agular took full advantage with a brilliant first time shot from outside the penalty area.

It might have been three in stoppage time, which would have been harsh on the visitors, when a misplaced pass fell into the path of Smith but his first time shot from twenty yards flew wide of an empty net.

Danny Bloor will be working hard to resolve his team’s problems up front ahead of another tough game, at home to Bath City on Saturday.

Worthing: Rees, Colbran, Smith, Smith, Racine, Rye, Luer (Pearce 62), Sarondo, Luque (Fish 64), Agular, Felix.

Subs not used: Myles-Meekums, Tutt.

Goalscorers: Pearce pen (69), Agular (79)

Yellow cards: Fish, Pearce

Welling United: Winterbottom, Lema, Green (Adom 81), Vaughan, Byrd, Burchell, Tanga, Odusanya, Kamara (Isiaka 57), Papadopoulos (MacAlliter 88), White.

Sub not used: Andrews, Kassarate.

Goalscorers: None

Yellow cards: Green, Vaughan

Referee: Morgan Conn

Assistants: Chris Britton and Oscar Whiting

Attendance: 1,197

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.