Having claimed the points needed to stave off relegation, Welling United visited Chelmsford City hoping to have the freedom to express themselves.

Sadly, they put in another disappointing away performance and crashed to defeat despite leading at half time.

Ben Martin failed to recover from injury sustained against Truro City on Good Friday and Rickie Hayles returned to the starting line up.

Louie Theophanous spun and shot in the early exchanges and Chris Lewington made a good save.

Chris Dickson, a threat throughout, tried his luck from well out but there was no power in his shot,

His next effort was closer but curled wide of the far post.

Theophanous then had the ball in the net but it was ruled out for offside.

Alex Cathline shot well over for Welling before Dickson was again off target when Chris Lewington struggled with a Chris Bush long throw.

Somewhat against the run of play, Welling went ahead when Hayles rose to head a Sam Hatton corner home.

Lewington then made a comfortable save from a Theophanous header before the Clarets had one last first half chance when Dickson got on the end of a long Bush clearance but, having made space, he fired over.

Not for the first time this season, Welling made an awful start to the second period. A poor back pass needed a quick clearance but Lewington's attempted punt hit Dickson who followed up and tapped home.

Before Welling had a chance to draw breath, Chelmsford went ahead. Robbie Wilmott delivered the corner and Michael Spillane headed home.

It could have been three but Dickson's shot came back off the post.

Alex Dyer made a double substitution and changed the formation but it mattered little as Welling showed few signs of getting back into the match.

Max Cornhill was off target for the Clarets as the game petered out.

Three minutes remained when Chelmsford finished the contest. Shaun Jeffers looked up and curled home from the edge of the area.

Welling United: Lewington, Fish, Brown, Hatton, Hayles, Walsh, Walker (Leacock 58), Waldren, Cathline (Joseph-Dubois 80), Marsh, Murrell-Williamson (Crawford 58). Subs not used: Fuseini, Richards.​