Welling United signed off their home season in style with a 3-0 victory over Hampton & Richmond Borough at Park View Road on Tuesday evening.
The youthful Wings put on a dominant display as Kyrell Lisbie netted a brace either side of a Daniel Nkrumah penalty to send the fans home happy for the last time this term and secure a fourth home win on the bounce.
After a quiet opening 20 minutes or so, the hosts sprung into life with a flurry of chances as their youthful front line began to threaten.
Kyrell Lisbie saw a shot well blocked in the box on 25 minutes, before academy graduate Sam Brayford’s follow-up on the half-volley drew a fine save from Beavers stopper Endurance Johnson.
Moments later, the lively league debutant Abel Vendrells-Parcerisa put in a dangerous, low cross which Johnson couldn’t keep hold of and Daniel Nkrumah just struggled to turn it in before the visiting defence cleared their lines.
For Hampton & Richmond’s part in the first period, the best they could muster was a free-kick from 22 yards which Kai McKenzie-Lyle got down well to his right to meet and claim.
The Beavers made a triple sub at the break and the Wings came close again within 15 seconds of the restart with the impressive Bayford, also making his league bow, stung the palms of Johnson with a good-looking drive from distance.
Welling really kicked into gear in the second half and dominated proceedings. Bayford hit the post with a clever chip from distance after Johnson had left himself stranded on the edge of the box, but it would not be long before the Wings had their lead.
The resulting corner was played short to Chi Ezennolim who crossed for Lisbie at the back stick to head home from close range.
Cameron Andrews threatened a second when sub Tom Mumford, another impressive academy debutant, found him at the far post, but a last-ditch block kept him out.
Moments later, the hosts would get their opportunity to double the lead from the spot when Lisbie was hacked down just inside the box, leaving Daniel Nkrumah to step up and dispatch his superb spot-kick into the top left-hand corner.
With 10 minutes remaining, Hampton & Richmond were awarded a penalty of their own in controversial fashion when Sam Cox and Adrian Clifton tangled innocuously off the ball, but justice was probably served when McKenzie-Lyle dived to deny Ruaridh Donaldson from 12 yards.
And five minutes later, Welling rounded off the scoring as Lisbie secured his brace. A run into the box by sub Christie Pattisson resulted in the speedy winger forcing Johnson into a stop which only fell as far as Lisbie who slammed home his second and his side’s third.
It was the perfect way for Warren Feeney’s men to end their season on home turf and they now have just one more test in 2022/23 in the form of a trip to Havant & Waterlooville on Saturday.
Welling United: McKenzie-Lyle, Cox, Parry, Ezennolim, Kassarate (Maloney 77), Andrews, Bayford, Papadopoulos, Nkrumah (Pattisson 77), Lisbie, Vendrells-Parcerisa (Mumford 62).
Subs (not used): Elito, Barnes.
Booked: Andrews 68 (foul on Gray)
Goals: Lisbie 55, 85, Nkrumah (pen) 76
Hampton & Richmond Borough: Johnson, Donaldson, Inman, Fernandez, Crowhurst, Barzey (Whittingham 46), Whyte, Gray, Rowe, Comley (Clifton 46), Whittaker (Dunne 46).
Subs (not used): Julian, Wishart.
Booked: Dunne 64 (foul on Bayford)
Referee: Oliver Mackey
Att: 482
