Disappointing Welling United's mediocre performance was punished by visitors Southport on an icy afternoon.

Creating little in the final third meant that one Southport goal was sufficient to claim the three points.

That strike might have come as early as the first minute. A corner wasn't cleared and a goalmouth scramble which included a clearance off the line was eventually claimed by Wings' goalkeeper Michael McEntegart.

Another early Southport corner caused more concerns for Welling as they failed to impose themselves on the game.

Harry Lee burst through when Welling finally mounted an attack, but with no other option, took on the shot that went wide of the far post.

Barney Williams then fired over but the Sandgrounders looked livlier on the attack.

Two more corners were defended before Welling won their first one of the match.

Mike Phenix was warned for a foul but within a minute, had transgressed again and became the first of three Southport players to be booked.

Xavier Vidal's deep free kick was knocked back by Lee for Sam Corne whose shot was blocked.

Referee Chris Powell pulled up injured just before half time to be replaced by fourth official Oliver Jackson.

There was still time for Josh Thompson to head over for Southport before the break.

Three minutes into the second half Andrew Wright's foul on George Porter earned him a caution. Vidal's free kick cleared the defensive wall but Matt Crocombe got across to push it around the post.

Louis Almond had a shot saved by McEntegart. Andy Bishop  followed up to net but was offside.

The escape proved to be short lived as Phenix finished off substitute Charlie Joyce's square pass with just over fifteen minutes remaining.

Ben Jefford fired over from distance as the hosts looked for a quick response.

Then Michael Bakare, who had come on for Ricky Wellard, headed wide from Reece Harris' cross but Welling didn't look like scoring again after that.

Welling United: McEntegart, Williams, Jefford (Osborne 90), Lee (Adeyinka 86), Chambers, Lokko, Vidal, Corne, Porter, Wellard (Bakare 72), Harris. Unused substitutes: King, Taylor.