WEST Country woes again struck Welling United as they fell foul to a single goal defeat at Bath City.

Defeats at Dorchester Town and Weston-super-Mare were followed up by disappointment at Twerton Park.

Although Welling worked hard they failed to test Jason Mellor in the Bath goal and one defensive error proved costly.

Live-wire Elliott Chamberlain created an early opportunity for himself but shot wide early on. He was then fouled by Anthony Acheampong who was cautioned as a result.

Aaron Brown hit his free kick sweetly but Jamie Turner, deputising for the injured Sam Mott, made an excellent save, holding on to the low shot as strikers followed up.

Having weathered the early storm, Welling came into the game more and Jake Reid sent Kiernan Hughes-Mason away. The slippery wide man pulled the ball back unselfishly but Ross Lafayette's normally reliable first touch let him down for once and the chance was lost.

Jake Gallagher's shot swerved away from the goal late with Mellor beaten then Lafayette shot wide from 20 yards.

Chamberlain got free again but saw his shot beaten out by Turner before Welling gave themselves a mountain to clear by giving away a goal. Turner received a back pass that he did not really want and with Chamberlain quick to challenge he hurried a pass out to Ben Martin. Although the Welling centre half was able to clear from immediate danger the ball came back in for Sekani Simpson to score with a fine finish.

Ryan Charles lobbed over before Welling again came back into the game.

Dan Ball was cautioned for the Romans before the Wings surged forward and won a free kick on the edge of the penalty area when Reid was brought down. Unfortunately for Welling, there was insufficient distance for Jamie Day to be able to get his free kick over the wall and under the bar and the ball sailed away to safety.

Early in the second half Welling did get the ball into the net, but the referee ruled that Hughes-Mason's challenge on Mellor from Lee Clarke's fine cross was illegal so Lafayette's finish counted for nothing.

Once again, Chamberlain stretched the Wings defence and his shot had to be turned over by Turner.

When Welling half cleared another ball in, Adam Connolly hit a terrific shot that brought about another fine save from Turner.

Kurtis Guthrie, who had started the season at bath, replaced Hughes-Mason as Welling went for a three pronged attack but the real problem for Welling was their inability to carve out an opening.

Most moments of hope came down the flanks from raiding full backs Fraser Franks and Jack Obersteller and the latter did well to win the ball, surge to the bye-line and pull back a pass that Lafayette could only shoot over first time.

Reid showed a fine turn of foot down the left wing and pulled the ball back well but Mellor claimed superbly as two Wings' strikers converged.

Josh Low was booked for the Romans as they became a little more desperate to hold onto the points before Welling made two more changes either side of a caution for Jake Gallagher.

Giannoulis Fakinos replaced Clarke in the 72nd minute then Jon Main came on for Reid with eleven minutes remaining.

Fakinos' appearance was to prove to be short-lived as 10 minutes after his introduction he flew in high and was shown a red card. Day was booked for dissent but in truth had little to dispute.

Kerry Morgan substituted the outstanding Chamberlain and should have extinguished any hope for Welling when clean through but shot meekly at Turner. This was not to prove disastrous for the hosts who saw out the remaining minutes without further alarm.

Welling United: Turner, Franks, Obersteller, Day, Martin, Acheampong, Gallagher, Clarke (Fakinos 72), Reid (Main 79), Lafayette, Hughes-Mason (Guthrie 53). Unused substitutes: Kinch, Fairweather-Johnson.