Defeat at home to an efficient but unenterprising Hampton and Richmond Borough team sent Welling United back on the brink of the relegation zone.

Joe Healy and Ben Jefford returned to the Wings' starting line up after missing the draw at Oxford with Olumide Durojaiye and Tom Bradbrook making way.

However, in a game of dead ball chances but little else, the only goal went Hampton's way in just the fifth minute. Jamie Coyle and Malachi Napa came together on the wing and referee Alex Blake awarded the free kick to the visitors. Josh Casey's delivery was flicked on by Charlie Wassmer leaving Ryan Moss space and time to head home.

Jack Jebb's deliveries created Welling's best hopes and Coyle had a header deflected wide for another corner that Harry Phipps headed straight at Sam Howes and Casey cleaned up.

Former Wing, Harry Crawford, headed wide for Hampton before Howes again thwarted Phipps with a flying save from Jebb's free kick.

There was almost further distress for Welling when Casey's shot was pushed out by Dillon Barnes and it rebounded off Moss who had strayed offside.

Max Kretzschmer fired wide from a free kick then Wassmer had a header cleared off the line however Welling netted in vain just before the break.

After Phipps' twenty yard shot was saved easily, he set up Bradley Goldberg who finished well from outside the box only to see it chalked out for offside.

Crawford might have given the Beavers breathing space early in the second half but was off target from close range when Moss missed Kretzschmer's cross.

Howes had to be alert to claim Jebb's free kick having just evaded Jack Parkinson before Jebb was withdrawn in favour of Christian Nanetti.

Nanetti was equally dangerous from the wing and his first cross was headed over by Healy who had found himself free in the middle of the penalty area.

Parkinson went down at the far post from a Nanetti corner but it fell to Healy who went for the near post when a pull back might have been the better option.

Another Phipps header from a Nanetti corner was tipped over before his next delivery caused havoc before falling to Healy but he smashed over from close range.

That seemed to deflate Welling and they appeared to tire. Shaun McAuley and Bradley Hudson-Odoi both had long shots saved easily before Moss cut in but fired high and wide.

Two away games lay ahead of Welling who need to pick up points quickly to avoid another relegation battle.

Welling United: Barnes, Gayle (Durojaiye 30), Jefford, Dymond, Coyle, Parkinson, Jebb (Nanetti 61), Healy, Phipps (Bradbrook 76), Goldberg, Monakana. Subs not used: Pattisson, Macklin.