Welling United earned their first back to back win of the season in a dramatic 3-2 victory over Oxford City.

It looked like the points were going to be shared after Oxford’s Matt Patterson made up for an earlier penalty miss with an equaliser with seven minutes of normal time remaining.

But as the clock ticked into the 90th minute, Anthony Acheampong scored his first Welling goal for five years to snatch all three points for Steve King’s side. The centre back latched onto a Thierry Audel flick on following a long free kick and rifled in a shot for a vital three points.

In truth, Oxford were more than worth at least a point from the game after a particularly strong second half performance, but King will be pleased his side battled through a tough match with a result on the other side.

Welling looked to use their superior height advantage through Jack Jebb’s set pieces as Acheampong was caught in two minds from the Wings’ first corner of the match on five minutes heading wide at the back post.

But it was visitors who grabbed an early lead as Kabongo Tshimanga slipped in behind the Welling defence collecting a delicate chipped ball over the top. The striker easily slipped the ball around the rushing Dan Wilks and tapped the ball into the empty net.

It took a trademark Jebb set piece to force the Wings’ first big chance on 25 minutes as his free kick was headed onto the bar once again by Acheampong. From the resulting scramble, Audel’s blocked shot was semi cleared by Craig King before he just about kept the ball from crossing the line with Acheampong bearing down on him.

Five minutes later, Welling were level after an intricate passing move in and around the penalty box allowed Jebb to pass back to Brendan Kiernan on the edge of the area who stroked the ball into the corner of the net.   

On 40 minutes, Danny Mills thought his great hold up play throughout the first half had been rewarded with a goal as he fired into an open net pouncing on King’s parry from a hard Craig Braham-Barrett shot. The jubilant crowd were silenced though as the goal had been ruled out to a questionable offside call.

After their strong first half, Welling were pushed back throughout the majority of the second half with Reece Flint, Udoka Godwin-White and Kyren Wiltshire finding success on the right wing for Oxford.

Braham-Barrett had to be at his best to produce a heroic block to deny Tshimanga in the box after the Welling defence failed to clear a cross from the left and Acheampong produced an equally impressive block as Godwin-Malife was about to take a shot following a defence splitting pass to Fleet.

Oxford continued to target the right side of Welling’s defence and Godwin-Malife was again was able to overlap and get behind Charles Banya but could only square the ball out for a goal kick.

Against the run of play, another great Kiernan dribble created space for Braham Barrett to whip a great cross into the box and the unmarked David Ijaha flicked the ball in for a 2-1 Welling lead.

Thoughts of holding out for a win were quickly dashed as substitute Nassim L’Ghoul’s lazy challenge on Godwin-White looked to be just outside the box but after checking with his linesman, referee Jack Packman pointed to the spot. But Patterson couldn’t take advantage as his spot kick clipped the top of the bar on its way over.

The big striker had a second bite of the cherry though and this time took full advantage.  Ben Jefford’s cross left the Welling defence statuesque allowing Patterson to slot in an equaliser on 83 minutes.

The points looked to have been shared but Acheampong’s last gasp winner was enough for a Welling victory. They will now face Chelmsford away next Saturday.

Welling United: Wilks, Banya, Braham-Barrett, Ijaha © (McDonald 89), Acheampong, Audel, Kiernan, Jebb, Mills, Goldberg (Mendy 65), McCallum (L’Ghoul 65):    Subs Not Used: Ambroisine, Pinney

Bookings: Ijaha 69, L’Ghoul 74

Oxford City: King, Godwin-Malife, Jefford, Jones, Ruddick, Oastler ©, McEachran, Fleet, Patterson, Tshimanga, Wiltshire (Fasanmade 81):            Subs Not Used:  Atkinson, Krasniqi, Carter, Grantham

Bookings: Godwin-Malife 80