FOLLOWING an uninspiring season opener, Welling United visited Havant & Waterlooville and won 2-1 in an entertaining and eventful game.

Jamie Day’s knock against Staines Town meant he was unable to select himself allowing Loick Pires a start and the Welling striker made the most of the opportunity putting in a fine display.

Jake Newton exercised referee Jake Hillier’s patience with two unfair tackles and then kicked the ball away, but the Hawks full back escaped with a couple of stern lectures.

Paul Hinshelwood tested the Welling wall before Havant’s Steve Ramsey earned the first caution of the night, one that was to prove costly in the final minutes.

Luis Cumbers had a low cross claimed by Nathan Ashmore, Lee Clarke’s pass found Pires whose deflected effort went just wide of the near post with Ashmore nowhere, and Ben Martin just failed to get onto the end of a Jack Obersteller corner kick flicked on by Andy Pugh as the Wings raised the pace.

Former Wing Craig Braham-Barrett, outstanding for the Hawks, gave Welling a scare when firing into the side netting then at the other end Pugh’s first time shot from a Pires pass went just wide.

Further problems caused by Braham-Barrett allowed Ramsey a shooting chance but John Whitehouse was equal to the task and tipped the effort over.

After Joe Healy had been booked, Cumbers burst through and as he attempted to round Ashmore, he was taken out unceremoniously at the cost of a penalty kick and a caution.

Although Clarke’s 43rd minute effort was beaten out by Ashmore, the Welling midfielder was first to the loose ball and he made no mistake with the second opportunity.

Just as Welling looked to go into the break with a well deserved lead, Braham Barrett equalised from the tightest of angles. Jack Parkinson was cautioned for suggesting that the ball might not have crossed the line but the assistant referee was in a perfect position to signal the goal.

Cumbers burst through early in the second half but failed to muster sufficient power to beat the retreating defence and it looked as if Welling would pay when a penalty was awarded to Havant for a foul on Braham-Barrett.

Mark Nwokeji stepped up but struck his spot kick well over the crossbar.

Obersteller’s deep free kick was headed over by Pires, Cumbers shot wide of the near post, Pires had another effort saved by Ashmore then again turned provider as Welling attempted to punish the Hawks for their penalty miss.

Healy and Clarke combined to give Cumbers another opportunity that was blocked for a corner.

Havant then came back and Whitehouse had to turn over a Ramsey chip before Anthony Acheampong headed off the line and Whitehouse saved another long range effort.

In the midst of all this Clarke and Fazakerley found their way into the referee’s notebook and Cumbers joined his team-mates shortly after Ashmore had done well to turn a cross over whist under pressure from Pires.

The deadlock was broken, finally, in the 82nd minute when Fazakerley whipped in a vicious free kick that required the merest of flicks by Pugh to defeat Ashmore.

Havant showed little sign of equalising again and Mr Hillier showed Ramsey a second yellow card, and sent him off after one chirp too many.

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Welling: Whitehouse, Fazakerley, Obersteller, Healy, Acheampong, Martin, Parkinson, Clarke, Cumbers, Pugh,Pires. Subs not used: Attwood, Johnson, Camacho, Conteh, Poole.