Defeat at home to Dulwich Hamlet saw Welling United drop to fourteenth place in the Vanarama national League South table.

Their sixth loss of the season on their home turf was disappointing for the club in front of over fifteen hundred spectators, their biggest attendance at Park View Road this term. Behind the scenes, the club did everything possible to get the game played despite the heavy rain that has blighted the area in the last couple of weeks, but goals conceded either side of half time and two further goals late in the proceedings meant that the result of the pitch did not reward their efforts.

They suffered a blow during the week when Daniel Nkrumah was recalled by Leyton Orient after it had been agreed to extend the loan until the end of the season. As a result, Dylan Gavin has been recruited from Charlton Athletic, initially on a one-month deal. He has experience of the league having played for two other National League South clubs over the last season and a half.

His work rate was superb, but he was left having to feed off scraps as Welling struggled to put together too many good passing moves.

Johl Powell shot wide for Dulwich early on after creating space for himself, then Kershnic Krasniqi fired well over after Nana Owusu’s free kick had come back to him off the Welling United defensive wall.

Ade Azeez blocked Dulwich goalkeeper Charlie Grainger’s attempted clearance but his attempted lob into the empty net failed to get off the ground and Grainger was able to atone for his error with a comfortable save.

When Welling took the lead, it had an element of good fortune about it. Aaron Barnes sent over a cross which initially looked as though it wouldn’t worry Grainger. However, it dipped late and the Dulwich goalkeeper was left helpless.

Gavin was thwarted by an acrobatic save by Grainger before Chi Ezennolim, playing in an unaccustomed midfield position, fired over from the edge of the penalty area.

At the other end ex-Wing Danny Mills had a shot deflected past the post before another former Welling player, George Porter, chased an apparent lost cause to set up Joe Felix but he shot wide of the near upright.

In the final minute of first half stoppage time, Frankie Raymond’s free kick fell into the path of an offside looking Will Wood via the Welling defensive wall. He fired home and celebrated after a guilty look at the assistant referee to see that his flag was not raised.

Having scored with less than thirty seconds left until half time, Dulwich went ahead in under half a minute played after the break. A mix-up in the Welling defence gifted it to Powell and he slotted it beyond a hesitant Kai McKenzie-Lyle.

McKenzie-Lyle saved comfortably from Krasniqi before the match became a battle in the middle of the park that threatened to boil over as the referee struggled to keep control. Only eleven minutes remained when Welling had another chance and scored.

Taylor Maloney’s free kick found Amadou Kassarate and his effort could only be pushed up by Grainger. It may have been going in anyway, but Azeez took no chance and bundled it home.

Mills headed over at the far post before Welling had an opportunity to go ahead when Antony Papadopoulos met a Maloney corner with a first-time side-foot volley that flew just over with Grainger well beaten.

Two minutes remained when Dulwich went back ahead. Raymond delivered for fellow former Bromley team-mate Jack Holland to meet with a powerful header.

As Welling threw men forward looking to get something out of the game, it left them in danger of being caught on the break and Daniel Smith took full advantage deep into stoppage time when he slotted into the bottom corner.

Warren Feeney’s team travel to Chippenham Town on Tuesday in the hope that they can extend their good record there.

Welling United: McKenzie-Lyle, Jones, Powell, Dunne (Elito 76), Parry, Sendles-White, Maloney, Ezennolim (Papadopoulos 60), Azeez, Gavin, Kassarate. Sub not used: Howard, Jones, Andrews.