There was joy for Welling United at last when they defeated Havant and Waterlooville in the Vanarama National League South.

After four games, they were yet to pick up their first point, but against Havant they were very good value for the three points that took them off the foot of the table.

They started slowly and Ansu Janneh and Joe McNerney were both off target for the visitors. However, Welling should probably have gone ahead when Jephte Tanga met Lewis White’s cross with a stooping header that bounced straight down allowing Ross Worner to gather.

Tanga then turned provider as Welling went ahead. His clever pass allowed Alex MacAllister to ghost past Worner and clip home despite Joe McNerney’s attempt to clear it off the line.

Antony Papadopoulos and Lachlan Byrd were both off target as Welling enjoyed more of the play but they were stunned when Havant levelled five minutes before half time. Tom Blair’s cross rebounded into the path of Muhammadu Faal whose shot went in off the underside of the bar.

Janneh flashed a shot over for Havant before the break but Welling took a grip on proceedings in the second half and went back ahead within ten minutes. Worner came out to claim a long Jack Burchell free kick but got in a mess with Joe Oastler causing him to spill it. White was the first to it and he slotted it into the bottom corner.

Blair and Janneh shot over for the visitors and Kain Adom did likewise for Welling before their skipper, James Vaughan fired wide.

Just under twenty minutes remained when Welling increased their lead. Having just come on, seventeen year old David Kamara scored his first league goal for the club with a superb finish into the bottom corner after a couple of touches had created the opening.

Any hopes that Welling had of seeing it out easily were undone seven minutes from time. A swift passing move found Callum Kealy in the penalty area and he squeezed it home from a tight angle.

Even with six additional minutes, Havant didn’t look likely to break Welling down again and the hosts were soon celebrating getting their season off and running.

Welling United: Winterbottom, Lema (Andrews 85), Green, Vaughan, Byrd, Burchell, Tanga, Odusanya, MacAllister (Kamara 71), Papadopoulos, White (Adom 56). Sub not used Olomowewe, Isiaka.