Eastleigh too strong for Wings

9:44am Monday 25th February 2008

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Eastleigh 3-1 Welling United

WELLING failed to ease their relegation fears on Saturday when they went down to defeat at play-off chasing Eastleigh.

The Wings got off to a disastrous start by conceding a goal in the third minute when Warren McBean headed home.

Shortly afterwards, the hosts' full back Adam Everitt escaped censure from the young referee for a poor challenge on Wing's Ellis Green.

Green, returning to Eastleigh after a spell there at the start of the season, set up Welling's first real chance, but Sam Gargan failed to convert.

Ironically, Green then picked up a yellow card for an innocuous challenge which was nowhere near as bad as the one on him earlier on.

Welling had a good shout for a penalty when Chris Moore appeared to be shoved in the back before Eastleigh came close to increasing the lead when Everitt's effort came back off the crossbar.

Ohran Stewart was the next Welling player to have a chance when, after twisting and turning to make room, his shot was blocked.

The last major incident of the first half was a decent save from Jamie Turner from Karl Murray's free-kick.

Welling boss Andy Ford replaced Moore with Orlando Smith at the interval.

Shortly after the restart, Gargan just missed the target with a curled effort aimed at the top corner and Welling won a corner.

This was only half cleared and the half-time substitution paid dividends as Smith drilled his shot inside David Wilkinson's near post.

Eastleigh regained the lead with a freak goal when a Mark Marshall corner floated over, hit the far post and then bounced back into the net.

A few moments later, Turner escaped a rash surge out of his goal when Paul Sales failed to find the net with the goal gaping.

The home team finished off the contest in the 79th minute with a goal from Chris Piper and although Gargan headed narrowly wide in the last minute, it was too little, too late.

Welling United: Turner, Howe, Ryan, Carpenter, Moore (Smith 46), Ellison-Hustwick, Green (Benjamin 86), Stewart, Gargan, Foyewa (Coleman 76), Cobbs. Subs not used: Soloman, Powell. Att: 705