Welling United suffered a 2-0 defeat to Cray Wanderers at Park View Road on Saturday.

The visitors took the lead early on through Harry Waldock, who struck a volley from the edge of the box which took a deflection before ending up in the net.

In what was a difficult first half for the Wings, Freddie Norman was called into action to keep Waldock from bagging his brace with a fine save in the box, but he was unable to keep out Cray’s second when Alex Hernandez slid in at the back post to make it 2-0 in the 34th minute.

The away side had the opportunity to make it three before half-time when Luke O’Neill felled sub Lateef Adaja in the box, but Norman stood strong to keep out Hernandez’s spot-kick to ensure the deficit would remain at two going into the break.

Despite seeing plenty of the ball, Welling continued to struggle to create after the break. Indeed, Cray came close to adding a third when Josh Williams burst forward on the break and rattled the crossbar with a shot just inside the box, but two goals would be all they would need as they eased their way to the final whistle.

The defeat brings to an end Rod Stringer’s spell in interim charge, with the new Wings boss expected to be in place for a first look at his new side on Tuesday evening for the Velocity Cup clash with Folkestone Invicta at Park View Road.

Welling United: Norman, Williams-Bushell (Ebuzoeme 46), Apat, O’Neill (Redfearn 46), Majoyegbe, Walker, Young, Thomas, Paxman, Ufuah, Akinwande (Addy 79).

Subs (not used): Simmons, Boxall.

Booked: Ufuah 32 (foul on Seaden), O’Neill 42 (foul on Adaja), Young 80 (foul)

Cray Wanderers: Seaden, Morgan, Waldock, Sutton, Nzala, Raymond, Hernandez, Williams, Taylor, Gyamera, Dickson.

Subs: Kardel, Keto, Isiaka, Hand, Adaja.

Goal: Waldock 4, Hernandez 36

Referee: Marcin Indyk

Att: 1,415

(Photos: Keith Gillard & Chris Zimmerman)