Although already guaranteed to finish third, Welling United put in a strong performance to see off Hampton and Richmond Borough.

In their previous two home games Welling had started in great fashion by scoring within two minutes and they did so again against the Beavers despite not scoring from their first attack when Danny Mills’ header from Brendan Kiernan’s cross was saved.

Gavin McCallum, a threat throughout, had a shot blocked. It came out to Jack Jebb making his first start for five months and when his effort came back out McCallum had a better position and didn’t waste it when firing home from twenty yards.

Brendan Kiernan shot wide against his team from 2017-18 before Mohamed Bettamer fired in a shot that Tom Lovelock had to get down to save.

Luke Ruddick showed his petulance in juggling the ball after the whistle had blown for a foul before volleying out of the ground yet he escaped a yellow card.

Still Welling pressed and Mills found Bettamer but his clever chip floated just wide.

Long range efforts from Ryan Hill and Craig Dundas flew over before Welling increased their lead. A long ball out from Dan Wilks was flicked on by Mills and Kiernan held off his marker before firing home.

Ruel Sotiriou had a shot well saved by Wilks then former Wing Oliver Sprague let fly but his shot rolled tamely to Wilks.

Jordan Gibbons, returning from injury, found Bettamer and his shot was turned around the post by Lovelock before Dundas had the last shot off the half but it went wide.

If Welling started the first half well, it was Hampton who started the second half in lively fashion. Twice Anthony Acheampong had to make crucial headed clearances before Casey MacLaren’s shot clipped the outside of the post.

Sotiriou then looked to have got clear but Acheampong got back well to make the tackle. Soon after Sotiriou had another shot but Wilks saved.

Having ridden that spell, Welling regained the upper hand and McCallum slung in a free kick that Kiernan was unable to finish then Bettamer hit a free kick that Lovelock fumbled but was up quickly enough to smother.

MacLaren fired over for Hampton before Welling introduced Nassim L’Ghoul. Immediately, it brought out the bad side of Hampton.

Ruddick, having been lucky to escape a booking in the first half, was cautioned for a cynical foul on L’Ghoul and soon after Welling scored a third. McCallum played a superb ball through and Battarmer controlled well before tucking home his second goal in two games.

McCallum was involved in the fourth when his thirty yard shot took a deflection of Rian Bray to nestle in the bottom corner.

Simon Downer became the next visitor to be cautioned when he pulled L’Ghoul back by the neck. From the free kick, Thierry Audel headed back across the face of goal but L’Ghoul was unable to keep his effort down.

Wilks was then called upon to make a great save from a drive by Zak Joseph.

Once more L’Ghoul was taken out and it was a shocker of a challenge that should have ended his involvement in the game but he escaped with a caution then former Wing Harry Crawford became the fourth Beaver to be booked for a poor challenge in midfield.

L’Ghoul shot wide for Welling before he was stopped in his tracks unfairly again, this time by Joseph who pulled him back by his shorts.

Chelmsford City’s one nil-victory at Chippenham Town means that they will visit Park View Road in the play-offs next Sunday with the winners progressing to the decider.

Welling United: Wilks, Gibbons, Braham-Barrett, Jebb (Anau 46), Acheampong, Audel, Kiernan (L’Ghoul 65), Ijaha (Hill 55), Mills, Bettamer, McCallum. Subs not used: Genovesi, Goldberg.