Victory at Tonbridge Angels meant that Welling United ended their barren run, and 2022, with an important three points.

Warren Feeney gave Avan Jones and Aaron Powell their Welling league debuts and Daniel Nkrumah a first league start, and all three impressed.

Manny Parry had the first opportunity of the match as the Wings started quickly. A Taylor Maloney corner was cleared into his path, but the Welling centre back could only hook it over.

At the other end, Wings’ goalkeeper Myles Roberts struggled with a low James Fielding cross but recovered quickly to save from Jack Wood, then Jordan Greenidge headed wide from a Louis Collins cross.

Devonte Aransibia tried to show Welling that they had made a mistake when allowing him to leave when he headed towards goal, but Jamie Sendles-White got back well to head it over his own bar before Roberts blocked a Sonny Miles header on the line.

As half time approached, a succession of flashpoints between the teams resulted in two cautions apiece before Jack Packman brought the first forty-five minutes to a close.

After the break, Welling upped the tempo and broke the deadlock with the best passing move of the match. Maloney and Powell were both involved before Nkrumah crossed. Azeez met it with a low volley back across goal and inside the post.

Collins shot wide for Tonbridge and Nkrumah did likewise for Welling. Greenidge thought that he had levelled but Roberts made an exceptional diving save to keep out his header, then Aransibia came close when his shot from twenty-five yards clattered the bar on the way over.

Having ridden the storm, Welling again threatened. Substitute Medy Elito found Maloney in an area that invited him to let fly but he was just off target before the Wings had a fantastic opportunity to double their lead. Azeez played it in behind the last defender who slipped, allowing Stefan Payne a clear run on goal. He drew out goalkeeper Jonathan Henly and slotted it past him only to see it come out of the base of the post.

Although Tonbridge threw men forward, Welling defended well and only a Greenidge shot from a Craig Braham-Barrett pass might have threatened but he screwed it wide.

Henly joined the attack when Tonbridge won a corner in the final minute of injury time, and it fell into his path. His first shot was blocked, as was his follow up and it went out for another corner. Henly met that one with a firm header that Roberts tipped over.

There was no time to take to deliver the resulting corner and the Welling players shook hands with their counterparts before acknowledging their noisy fan base.

Welling United: Roberts, James, Powell, Dunne, Sendles-White, Parry, Kassarate, Nkrumah (Elito 67), Payne (Curran 84), Azeez (Barnes 90+1), Maloney. Sub not used: McKenzie-Lyle, Andrews.