It was a five star performance by Welling United as they put Oxford City to the sword.

Ade Azeez and Stefan Payne shared the five goals with the former scoring a hat-trick as the Wings cruised to an unexpectedly comfortable victory.

Coming into the game, the visitors had won four in a row without conceding a goal and they participated in the play-offs last season, but they were decidedly second best in this encounter.

Warren Feeney’s team started the livelier and went ahead in the ninth minute when good football allowed Aaron Barnes to get forward. He clipped his through ball to perfection leaving Azeez one on one with Ben Dudzinski and the Welling striker was ruthless with his finish.

Amadou Kassarate might have made it two Amadou Kassarate got on the end of a Taylor Maloney free kick but could not direct his header on target. Then Payne came close when Antony Papadopoulos caught an Oxford player hesitating and nicked it away. He found Payne who looked up and took aim but saw his shot hit the bar before going over.

Just after the half hour mark, Welling doubled their lead. Azeez was played in on the edge of the area and he sized up his options before side-footing it just inside the far post.

Myles Roberts in the Welling goal made his one crucial intervention soon after, making a superb diving save to keep out Lewis Miccio’s header. Shortly after, Welling made it three. Kassarate knocked down Ezennolim’s deep free kick and Payne lost his marker to thrash it home.

Four minutes later, Welling killed off the contest when Payne turned provider with a header across the goal for Azeez to complete his hat-trick from close range.

After the break, Oxford looked for a quick response but Jean Baptiste-Fischer shot wide, then Lewis Coyle fired over from a free kick.

Kassarate thought that he was going to score with a powerful header from a Maloney free kick but Dodzinski made a brilliant save before a nasty challenge by Charlie Rowan on Manny Parry resulted in a red card for the Oxford player.

Papadopoulos shot over before Welling made it five with twenty minutes remaining. Payne took full advantage of the space left by the absent defender by heading home unchallenged from a Maloney free kick.

In the closing minutes it might have been six but Dudzinski made an incredible double save from Payne and Papadopoulos.

As Welling do not have a midweek fixture, they now have a week to prepare for next week’s local derby at Dartford.

Welling United: Roberts, Barnes (Hyde), Ezennolim, Dunne, Sendles-White, Parry, Maloney, Papadopoulos, Azeez (Francis 58), Payne, Kassarate (Elito). Sub not used: Dickens, McKenzie-Lyle.