Tasmin Miah reports from the J Hearnden Skip Hire Community Stadium

Welling United secured a fantastic win against Havant and Waterlooville on a sunny but showery Saturday afternoon – the Wings’ first three points of the season.

The Wings proved to be the better side in the first half with multiple chances throughout. In the early minutes of the game, debutant Lewis White sent a significant cross over to Jephte Tanga, although the Leyton Orient loanee’s header was saved by the Hawks’ keeper.

 For Havant, Joe McNerney also proved to potentially have a meaningful chance, but his header had gone wide. Moments later, Alex MacAllister’s first goal for the club after 17 minutes saw Welling take a deserved lead.

The Aldershot Town loanee latched on to Tanga’s pass to lift his shot past Ross Worner.

Other occurrences from Welling saw Antony Papadopoulos send a volley over the goal, which arose from a free kick taken by James Vaughan.

However, five minutes before the end of the half, Havant equalise with a goal by Muhammadu Faal, who smashed a shot in under the bar after the Wings failed to clear, which saw the first half end level at break.  

The second half started off in Welling’s favour with an opportunistic goal from White, as he guided the ball into the net with ease from the edge of the box following a mix-up between the goalkeeper and his defence, allowing the Wings to lead 2-1.

However, seconds after, White came off with a shoulder injury and was replaced by Kain Adom. 

At the 60-minute mark, Worner made a momentous save, as MacAllister’s goal-bound header was denied. Shortly after came the pivotal moment.

17-year-old David Kamara came off the bench with a bang, scoring seconds after he entered the fray. After getting better of the Hawks’ defence following a ball over the top, the academy graduate took a touch to come inside and found the corner of the net with a confident finish to make it 3-1. 

 Havant managed to secure one back at 83 minutes as Callum Kealy finished into the net for the Hawks. In the minutes of added time, Tom Blair’s attempt for goal was denied by Ben Winterbottom. At the end, Welling managed to hold on and they secured what was their well-deserved first win of the season.

Danny Bloor’s men head straight back into action on Monday when they head to Tonbridge Angels.

Welling United: Winterbottom, Lema (Andrews 85), Green, Vaughan, MacAllister (Kamara 71), Odusanya, White (Adom 55), Papadopoulos, Burchell, Tanga, Byrd

Subs (not used): Olomowewe, Isiaka

Booked: Tanga 43 (dissent)

Goals: MacAllister 18, White 54, Kamara 71

Havant and Waterlooville: Worner, Innocent, Orstler, McNerney, Janneh, Mehew, Faal, Jewitt-White (Kealy 73), Blair (Baker), Deacon, Roberts (Busari 57)

Subs: Stedman, Connolly.

Booked: Janneh 41 (foul), Jewitt-White (foul), Baker 89 (foul), Orstler 90+5 (foul)

Goals: Faal 40, Kealy 83

Att: 527

(Photo: Dave Budden)