Welling United 2-0 Dartford

Following three games on the road without a winning way, they returned to Park View Road and were good value for their win.

Chances were few and far between in the first half as Dartford’s loaded midfield looked to neutralise the creative players in Welling’s midfield.

Danny McNamara, starting his second loan spell, attempted to pick out Danny Mills but he was unable to get a decent connection at full stretch and Bailey Vose was able to smother it.

Caden Genovesi then sent in a long free kick that Tom Bonner misjudged and headed straight up. Josh Hill read it and headed across goal for Mills but his volley flashed across the face of goal.

Hill was again in the thick of it from a Welling corner when it came out to him at an awkward height but his volley into the ground looped up for a grateful Vose to claim.

Mills then sent over a cross of the type that he would love to be sent over for him but Nassim L’Ghoul is far shorter and could only guide it just beyond the far post.

As tempers started to rise, Mills was cautioned for his part in a clash with Bonner and soon after Mills was hacked down by Jordan Wynter then Bonner blasted the loose ball into the prone striker. Both were cautioned although the latter might consider himself fortunate that the punishment was not greater.

Another Welling corner resulted in the breakthrough. L’Ghoul fired it towards the far post and the commanding Hill rose to power his header home.

Conceding the goal caused Dartford to re-think their tactics and Charlie Sheringham was introduced at the start of the second half as a replacement for Wynter.

Immediately after the re-start Welling came close to extending their lead. Bradley Goldberg found Mills who turned well but shot just wide from a great position.

Goldberg then tried his luck when found by L’Ghoul but his twenty yard curler was saved by a diving Vose.

L’Ghoul then went on a driving run before launching an effort that flew just wide of the far post.

Lee Noble had Dartford’s first effort on target with a long range effort that Vose saved comfortably.

Genovesi sent in another long cross that L’Ghould did well to win but his header looped up and Vose made an easy save.

Gavin McCallum shot wide after good move involving L’Ghoul, Goldberg and Mills had stretched the Dartford defence.

Substitute Andre Coker gave Welling a warning that Dartford were still in the game as long as the difference was kept to one goal with a shot that went wide from the edge of the area.

However, Welling missed an outstanding chance to extend their lead shortly afterwards. McCallum found Goldberg and his smashed against the post. It came back to McCallum who crossed to the far post for Mills to rise but head wide from six yards out.

Ben Greenhalgh could have made them pay when bursting through. He did well to shake off a foul but then sliced his shot well wide from just outside the penalty area.

In their next raid, Welling did score the goal that they wanted for breathing space. John Paul Kissock tricked his way down the right hand side then drove a low centre across the face of the six yard box. Vose could only parry it and a gleeful Mills slammed it home from six yards out.

Late Dartford efforts from Bradbrook, Greenhalgh and Daniel Johnson did not threaten but they did have one last chance in injury time. Coker created space for himself on the edge of the penalty area but could only look in dismay as his shot came back off the post.

The three points took Welling up to third place and they entertain fourth place Concord Rangers on Saturday.

Welling United: Wilks, McNamara, Genovesi, Ijaha, Hill, Audel, McCallum (Newton 85), Kissock, Mills, Goldberg (Ijaha 78), L’Ghoul (Kiernan 84). Subs not used: Acheampong, Anau.

Dartford: Vose, Johnson, Onyemah, Wynter (Sheringham 46), Vint, Bonner, Greenhalgh, Noble, Philpot (Oyenuga 77), Bradbrook, Hayes (Coker 57). Subs not used: Derbyshire, Roberts.