Riccardo Di Trolio scored a vital goal in Welling United’s drive to avoid relegation.

Their only goal victory was their first win against Dover Athletic since 2012 and consigned their guests to the drop. It ended a run of nine league matches for Welling without a win against the Whites.

On Wednesday, Crawley Town called Sonny Fish back from his successful loan spell with the Wings to send him to play in the National League for Gateshead. The recall happened one day before the transfer deadline meaning so there was no time to scout for a replacement.

As a result, Welling manager Rod Stringer started David Amoo up front with Reece Grant and Adam Roscrow returned to the substitutes bench. Cameron Green was rested having started every game this season, and both he and new signing Jack Munns were also amongst the substitutes.

Jason Adigun was twice off target for the Wings in the early stages before George Nikaj should have done better for Dover when intercepting a pass out but shooting straight at Reice Charles-Cook rather than squaring.

Adigun and Amoo combined to send Reece Grant through but his poked effort went just beyond the far post with Dover goalkeeper Matthew Rowley struggling to get across.

Charles-Cook was then called into action when coming out quickly to thwart Nick Dembele however it was Welling who had the last opportunity of the first period when a corner was cleared as far as Lachlan Byrd and his first time side-foot volley flew just over.

After the break Freddie Oliver almost scored an own goal but it went inches over after Rowley had saved from Amoo. Dembele then had Dover’s best chance of the afternoon after the Reice Charles-Cook saved from brother Roman Charles-Cook. It came out to the Dover striker whose shot was cleared off the line by Byrd.

Another Adigun shot was deflected wide before a Reece Grant effort was blocked past the post. From the corner, Welling made the break-through. Antony Papadopoulos delivered to the far post and Di Trolio arrived unmarked to head home.

Although, Dover pushed players forward they didn’t threaten and Welling twice had chances to wrap the game up. Gene Kennedy sent Roscrow through but his shot lacked the power to bother Rowley. Then, after Charles-Cook had tipped a George Wilkinson shot over, Welling had a two on one opportunity but Roscrow’s pass was too heavy and Anthony Grant was unable to get a shot away.

Results elsewhere went Welling’s way with every club below them, other than Truro City, losing so one more win from their remaining five matches may be sufficient to keep them in the National League South.

Welling United: Charles-Cook, Lema, Johnson (Green 69), Byrd, Ellul, Di Trolio, Adigun, A. Grant, Amoo (Kennedy 56), R. Grant (Roscrow 75), Papadopoulos. Subs not used: Burchell, Munns.