SOLID defending combined with two spectacular strikes were key to Welling United’s 2-0 defeat of Weston-super-Mare.

Jack Parkinson and Loick Pires, both of whom had excellent games, scored the all important goals which took Welling level on points with second placed Dartford.

Full back Jack Obersteller created the first opportunity of the game when his driven free kick was blocked for a corner. He took the kick himself and found Parkinson at the far post but the Welling captain was unable to find the target with his header.

Joe Healy went on a mazy run before shooting wide from 25 yards.

Another foul in a dangerous area gave Jamie Day the opportunity to have a shot and after his foul came back off the defensive wall, Healy’s follow up fizzed inches wide.

Matt Villis did well to cut out a long Parkinson through ball before Lloyd Irish had to be sharp to save at the feet of Day who had been played in by Pires.

It came as no surprise when Welling went ahead as they were offered yet another opportunity by a foul 25 yards out. Day touched the ball to his right and Parkinson blasted an unstoppable shot into the top corner.

Pires then shot wide before Weston created their only chance of the first half but Ben Cleverley sliced his shot well wide after being set up by Sahr Kabba.

Lee Clarke replaced Scott Kinch at half time and Weston were forced to make their first change two minutes into the second half with Dayle Grubb replacing Chris Young who had injured himself shooting just wide moments earlier.

Welling went two ahead five minutes into the second half.

Clarke badgered a defender into making a mistake and then forced Irish into a hurried clearance. Pires collected the loose ball before cutting across the goal and striking a shot just under the bar and over Jamie Price on the goal-line.

Andy Sambrook did well to get the ball back to Craig Holloway after Dean Cracknell stumbled as Weston broke following a Welling corner.

Holloway was forced into action again making saves from Kabba and Grubb before he made a block tackle to thwart Kabba once more.

Martin Slocombe earned the first yellow card of the night for dissent before Anthony Acheampong joined him in the book for a foul.

Acheampong then did well to ensure Slocombe could not get a shot on target at the far post and although Weston had plenty of possession and played some football that was easy on the eye, it was Welling who looked more likely to score in the latter stages.

Three times, Luis Cumbers was thwarted by strong defending after excellent passes by Pires had looked to set him free.

Again Pires caused problems when dispossessing Cleverley and turning Jamie Laird before his shot came back off the legs of Irish.

Finally, Pires and Cumbers combined to play substitute Ben Greenhalgh in down the left wing but his shot from a tight angle was saved by Irish.

Welling United: Holloway, Sambrook, Obersteller, Kinch (Clarke 46), Acheampong, Parkinson, Cracknell (Greenhalgh 67), Day, Cumbers, Healy, Pires. Unused substitutes: Martin, Baker, Flack.