Welling United’s season began with a defeat at Cheshunt at Cheshunt Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

A bright start led to the Wings coming inches away from taking the lead on 15 minutes when the impressive Jack Paxman smashed an effort off the inside of the right-hand post with an effort from the edge of the box.

But moments later, they would have their goal. A resulting corner was nodded towards goal, producing a good save from the hosts’ stopper, but Ruben Shakpoke was on hand to finish from close range for his side’s first goal of the new campaign.

That lead would last just four minutes, however.

Samuel Granville made his way into the box all too easily, before squaring for  George Nunn, who completed the simple task of tapping in from a couple of yards.

Welling had a glorious opportunity to regain their lead before the half-hour mark when Shakpoke was through on goal, with George Evans in plenty of space to his left. The in-form forward opted to shoot, forcing home stopper Preston Edwards into a good save at his near post.

From there, the home side took control and forced themselves into a two-goal advantage before the break.

Antonis Vasilou curled a neat shot into the top right-hand corner after an Logan Dobbs had cleared off the line in the 33rd minute, while Arthur Iontton took advantage of the visitors failing to clear their lines when he made it 3-1 three minutes before half-time.

Wings boss Lee Martin, who was serving a touchline ban following a red card he received as a player for Ramsgate at the end of last season, opted to make a triple sub at the break with Tom Leahy, John Ufuah and James Dyer all being introduced in the hope of giving Welling some extra impetus in the second 45.

Indeed, there were positive signs early in the second half as the Wings got on the front foot, with Shakpoke seeing an early effort deflect over.

Cheshunt were managing their lead relatively well, but the visitors gave themselves hope with 12 minutes remaining thanks to two of the half-time subs combining.

Dyer’s through ball was pounced on by Ufuah who did well to hold off the attention of a covering defender, before finishing calmly to reduce the arrears to a single goal.

With six minutes remaining Ufuah caused problems again as he burst down the left before laying off to Tom Leahy in a good position, but his shot was kept out by the keeper.

That proved to be somewhat of a turning point, with the home side going straight down the other end and killing off the game, with sub Jesse Effa firing in low to make it 4-2.

Welling will go again on Tuesday night as they host Aveley at Park View Road for their first home test of the season.

Cheshunt: Edwards, Akolbire, Roberts, Wilson-Braithwaite, Furlong, Da Silva, Vasilou, Granville, Nunn, Iontton, Kurran-Browne.

Subs: (Soulya-Osekonongo, Smith-Kouassi, Fanimo, Vukoje, Effa.

Booked: Akolbire 81 (foul)

Goals: Nunn 20, Vasilou 33, Iontton 42, Effa 85

Welling United: Huk, Williams-Bushell, O’Neill (Lewis 65), Majoyegbe, Dobbs, Cundle (Ufuah 46), Hamilton (Dyer 46), Penn, Paxman, Shakpoke (Sinai 72), Evans (T Leahy 46).

Booked: Penn 39 (foul), O’Neill 43 (foul), Paxman 90+6 (foul)a

Goals: Shakpoke 16, Ufuah 77

Referee: Marcus Tingey

Attendance: 396

(Photos: Peter Jozwiak)