Welling United got back to winning ways with a 1-0 victory over Hungerford Town at Park View Road on Saturday afternoon.
Devonte Aransibia’s penalty on the hour was enough for the Wings, who were made to battle on, once again, with 10 men following Amadou Kassarate’s late red card.
The action was slow to start on a warm autumn afternoon in DA16 with both sides feeling each other out for much of the first half.
Ade Azeez carved out a shot which was well blocked early on, before the striker dragged a shot well wide from the edge of the box.
But it was the visitors who wasted a gilt-edged chance to open the scoring on 11 minutes when Niko Muir volleyed well over the bar from good position, unmarked at the back post following a flick-on from a long throw.
Kai McKenzie-Lyle was forced into action before the break when he was at full stretch to tip Ben Allen’s goal bound shot from the edge of the box around the post, Welling were suddenly handed a pair of clear-cut opportunities for themselves at the other end late in the half which Azeez could not convert.
First, the striker adjusted well to get on the end of a flick-on, but could only hook his effort over the bar from close rang before, moments later, he was presented with a very similar opening – this time Jamie Sendles-White nodded Yaser Kasim’s cross back across the face of goal where Azeez was lying in wait, but he could only head over.
The Wings started the second period on the front foot and began to take control of proceedings.
Antony Papadopoulos came desperately close to opening the scoring when he was on hand to turn in a pull-back into the box, only for the ball to roll under his foot.
Welling finally broke the deadlock on the hour mark from the penalty spot when Chi Ezennolim was brought down after bursting into the box – substitute Aransibia stepped up to take the honours and made no mistake, firmly putting his spot-kick away.
From there, the Wings could have added a hatful more goals, but were denied by a number of good saves and dogged defending.
Ezennolim, Azeez and Papadopoulos all saw shots from close range either blocked or cleared off the line, while Kasim and Kassarate came close with efforts which whistled over.
With eight minutes remaining, the home side’s dominance was threatened as they were reduced to 10 men. Kassarate’s sliding challenge on Niko Muir was deemed to be dangerous by the referee, who produced a straight red card and left the Wings to battle on with a man down.
It mattered not, however, as McKenzie-Lyle continued to live a charmed life protecting his goal as the hosts defence remained tight.
Even with 10 men, Welling could have added a second late on with Cameron Andrews producing a good stop from the keeper, while Azeez’s frustrating afternoon continued when he was denied from close range, but a solitary goal was all that was needed to keep all three points at Park View Road, with a short trip to Dartford next up on Tuesday.
Welling United: McKenzie-Lyle, Cox, Parry, Nelson (Dickens 35), Sendles-White, Ezennolim, Kassarate, Kasim (Andrews 89), Maloney (Aransibia 59), Papadopoulos, Azeez.
Subs (not used): Pitterson, Kamara.
Booked: Parry 17 (foul on Ofuso)
Sent off: Kassarate 82 (dangerous play)
Goal: Aransibia 60 (pen)
Hungerford Town: Dickinson, Angell, Willmouth, Allen (Lynch 72), Ompreon (Rollinson 72), Muir, Ofuso, Smith (Rusby 60), Berry-Hargreaves, Gyebi, Jones.
Subs (not used): Bailey, Evans.
Booked: Smith 20 (foul on Ezennolim), Willmouth 79 (foul on Azeez)
Referee: Jack Packman
Att: 629
