Welling United started 2022 with an excellent victory at high flying Dulwich Hamlet.

Despite their heavy defeat at Maidstone just after Christmas, Welling manager Peter Taylor chose to name an unchanged team and it proved to be an inspired team selection. Overall, the Wings, who came into the game in terrible form, were the better team and well deserving of the win.

His team started brightly and Kristian Campbell gave Dulwich goalkeeper Charlie Grainger an early test with a low shot that was well saved. At the other end the quick feet of former Wing Danny Mills managed to get it in to Jordan Green but he screwed his effort wide.

Giovanni McGregor was off target with a free kick then Darren McQueen had two shots blocked. McGregor sent another free kick over before Mason Saunders-Henry drew a save out of Grainger at the other end.

Mills tried his luck with an overhead scissors kick but it drifted wide then Ade Shokunbi was well off target when Welling broke well. Jordan Higgs had a shot turned wide by Arthur Penney but Welling finished the half strongly. Maxwell Statham burst down the right wing and drove across goal but nobody could force it home then Dipo Akinyemi had a shot deflected onto the post and out for a corner.

Having finished the first half well, Welling continued to search for a goal. Akinyemi turned his man on the left wing and raced away and Grainger was happy to turn his near post drive around the post. The Wings came close again shortly afterwards when Shokunbi found Saunders-Henry whose shot was tipped onto the bar and over by Grainger. The Dulwich stopper then made another brilliant save to thwart Joe Muscatt.

After ten second half minutes, Welling scored the goal that looked to have been coming. Akinyemi got clear through the middle and although Grainger got a hand to his shot he had no real chance of keeping it out.

Dulwich tried to get back into the game but their long ball style didn't worry Welling too much and they continued to look dangerous on the counter. Shokunbi had a chance to seal it when sent through but Grainger made a great save from the attempted slot home, then Muscatt shot just over.

Grainger made another low save from Akinyemi while the best that the hosts could manage was a header from Dean Moore that landed on the roof of the net.

Further chances came Welling’s way and Bradley Stevenson laid it back to Yannis Drais but he could only side-foot wide then deep into injury time Shokunbi’s shot was cleared off the line by Andre Blackman.

Although another goal might have given the final scoreline a more realistic reflection of the match the Welling supporters weren't too concerned as they celebrated their first win since mid-November and just their second on the road all season.

Welling United: Sims, Statham, Ezennolim, Shokunbi, Perkins, Penney, Muscatt, Durojaiye, Akinyemi, Saunders-Henry (Drais 66), Campbell (Stevenson 74). Subs not used: Barnes, Parish, Pearce.