There was disappointment for Welling United when losing at Salisbury in the Vanarama National League South in their last away game in 2024.

It was the first ever meeting between the two clubs as Welling’s last visit to the city, in 2014, was against Salisbury City before the Wiltshire club went into administration. The Phoenix club formed in 2015 and has climbed from the county leagues to claim a place at step two in Non-League football.

Unusually, Welling manager Rod Stringer was able to name an unchanged starting eleven after defeating Bath City seven days earlier. As a result, new loanee Theo Alexandrou was named as a substitute. Dan Martin also returned to the bench having been injured since early November.

Playing into a strong wide, Welling’s game plan appeared to be to sit in, battle hard and restrict the hosts before playing more fluent football in the second half with the meteorological conditions in their favour. Although Jaden Perez shot over for the hosts early on, the plan appeared to be working until a moment of controversy. Ronan Silva looked to be yards offside as Tom Leggett struck his long pass down the line. The Assistant Referee thought otherwise allowing Silva to square for Noah Coppin to pass it into the empty net.

Despite being disadvantaged, Welling not only kept the hosts at arm’s length for the rest of the first half, they also created the only other goal attempt when Dave Winfield headed wide from a deep Sam Cornish corner.

After the half time break, Welling missed chances to level. Martell Taylor-Crossdale had the best opportunity when one-on-one with Whites’ goalkeeper Dan Lincoln but the former Dorking Wanderers custodian beat out his drive and it hit the arm of the Wings’ striker before he fired against the bar.

TJ Bramble shot wide of the near post from Gene Kennedy’s low cross, before he caused chaos in the Salisbury penalty area, twice having shots blocked before it fell for Zain Walker whose effort flew beyond the far post.

Maxwell Statham then beat Jordan Ragguette and crossed low to pick out Josh Redfearn who was also unable to hit the target before Theo Alexandrou was introduced for his debut for the Wings, on loan from Dorking. He was involved immediately with a shot that was deflected wide for a corner. Cornish swung it in and Lincoln struggled with it and was happy to see his finger tip clip it onto the bar and over. Cornish delivered from the other side and Jack Burchell’s header flew wide of the near post.

Against the run of play, the hosts increased their lead. Ragguette found space down the left wing and played a pass and go with Coppin before cutting in and firing inside the far post.

Within five minutes, the Wings were back in the game through a well despatched Gene Kennedy penalty after Alexandrou was felled in the area.

However, Welling were unable to capitalise and the hosts had a penalty of their own with two minutes remaining which Coppin converted.

Good news for Rod Stringer came in the form of the return from injury of Martin as a late substitute. The Wings’ fixture with Chelmsford City may be just too soon for his return to the starting line-up, but he cannot too far off.

Welling United: Lovett, Statham (Martin 89), Lankshear, Cornish, Burchell, Winfield (Johnson 71), Walker, Kennedy, Redfearn, Bramble (Grant 86) , Taylor-Crossdale (Alexandrou 62). Sub not used: Perkins.