VICTORY at Hampton kept Welling United well placed in their play-off ambitions whilst deepening the hosts’ relegation worries.

Again Jamie Day was forced to shuffle his threadbare squad and after the abandonment in midweek Anthony Acheampong and Liam Bellamy recorded their first official league starts.

Football was not easy on an awful playing surface but Welling had the first chance of the match when Loui Fazakerley fizzed a shot into the side netting with goalkeeper Matt Lovell struggling.

Mitch Walker, at the other end, made a straightforward save from Ian Hodges looping header before Welling went ahead.

Andy Pugh burst clear of the Hampton defence and Orlando Jeffrey failed in an attempt to hook the ball away, catching Pugh in the process and conceding a penalty. As Pugh was the last man the referee had no option but to dismiss the Beavers defender.

After a short delay, Lee Clarke stepped up to send Lovell the wrong way.

Jack Parkinson was pulled down by Charlie Holness and from the free kick, Day’s curler was turned away excellently by Lovell as he crashed into the framework of the goal.

Jamie Coyle required treatment for a cut above the eye and had to swap his blood stained number two shirt for a spare sixteen.

On the stroke of half time Walker, whose handling was solid throughout, claimed a high cross whilst under pressure from two oncoming strikers.

Hampton and Richmond had the first shot at goal in the second half but Pat O’Connor, having cut in skilfully from the wing, failed to hit the target with his effort.

Lovell was then called into action again when claiming Parkinson’s header back from Day’s deep corner.

Clarke had a great chance to score his and Welling’s second goal. Luis Cumbers played in Pugh and when his shot looped up off Lovell’s legs a nudge by Craig Tanner was just enough to prevent Clarke from heading into an empty net.

Coyle had to go off for further treatment and came back onto the pitch wearing the number eighteen shirt.

Moments later he was in action heading over a Day free kick.

Walker made a fine save from substitute Lawrence Yaku but Welling then had and missed a host of opportunities as the ten men hosts chased an equaliser.

Graeme Andrews failed to keep a header down from a Day corner, Cumbers turned but saw his shot saved by Lovell, Pugh had a shot saved by the legs of Lovell, a Cumbers effort was half blocked by Holness into the grateful arms of Lovell, and Cumbers again burst through but shot just wide of the far post.

Meanwhile the hosts offered little and Welling’s first win at the Beveree was well deserved.

Welling United: Walker, Coyle, Acheampong, Day, Andrews, Parkinson, Fazakerley, Clarke, Cumbers, Pugh, Bellamy. Unused substitutes Johnson, Pires, Sambrook.