Following their F.A. Cup knock out on the previous Saturday, Welling United were again beaten by the odd goal at home to Whitehawk.

Three weeks after announcing the signing of Christian Nanetti, the release from his former club came through finally allowing him to make his Welling debut.

In their meeting a week earlier, Whitehawk claimed the only goal within the first five minutes and came close to an early goal again in their second meeting. Danny Mills knocked on for Chris Assombalonga but Rickie Hayles made a crucial last ditch tackle.

At the other end Sam Hatton's free kick was nicked off the feet of Danny Waldren when he looked sure to finish then Lyle Della-Verde fired high and wide from Hatton's corner after Ross Flitney had slapped it out unconvincingly.

Some Nanetti trickery caused the Hawks' defence palpitations but twice he failed to get a shot away.

After twenty minutes, Welling conceded a penalty when Hayles was adjudged to have brought down Mills in the area. Ahmed Abdulla stepped up and although Chris Lewington saved his initial effort superbly, it came back out for Abdulla to smash into the opposite corner.

Their lead did not last long, however, as Nanetti slanted in a fine cross that Adam Coombes finished with a glancing header.

Coombes then broke into the area but was unable to get a shot away off balance before Danny Waldren fired well over following good build up play.

Lyle Delle-Verde tried his luck from long range but was off target.

On a rare foray Chris Assombalonga, making his debut on loan from Dagenham and Redbridge, had a header saved by Lewington following a flick on by Mills.

Waldren missed a fine chance for Welling when heading over Sam Hatton's corner then Ali Fuseini's twenty yarder was saved easily by Ross Flitney.

Flitney was again called into action soon after, saving from Waldren after Nanetti had stepped over Hatton's pass.

Nanetti was unlucky moments before the break when his first time effort from Coombes' cross flashed just over.

Assombalonga fired over early in the second half as the visitors started strongly.

Mike West had a shot deflected narrowly wide from Dan Harding's pass and Ben Strevens was also close with a free kick that missed by inches thanks to a ricochet off the defensive wall.

Having been given a stern lecture in the first half, Abdulla scythed Waldren down cynically but still managed to escape a booking following another long warning.

Nanetti found Waldren with a cross but his header flew straight at Flitney before Fuseini fired over on the spin.

Repeated and prolonged abuse of an assistant referee by Whitehawk manager Richard Hill eventually earned him a lecture and he could consider himself lucky not to be dismissed from the dug out.

Once more, Flitney was called into action, saving from Nanetti before the Hawks scored what turned out to be the winner with six minutes remaining. Assombalonga cut in from the right wing and fired a shot that was blocked out as far as Mills. Despite defenders trying to throw themselves into the path of his shot, the accuracy and pace was sufficient to find the back of the net.

There was still time for one last chance for Welling but Coombes' header from Della-Verde's corner flashed just beyond the far post.

Welling United: Lewington, Fish, Braham-Barrett, Fuseini, Francis, Hayles, Hatton, Waldren, Nanetti (Johnson 88), Coombes, Della-Verde. Subs not used: Agu, Leacock, Nelson.