Friendlies at home to National League clubs Ebbsfleet United and Sutton United completed Welling United’s pre-season campaign.

Against Ebbsfleet, Welling didn’t allow their opposition to settle and were good value for their single goal victory, scored by Elliot Long. Sutton, however, were relegated from the English Football League Division Two last season and are looking for an immediate bounce back. Unsurprisingly, the game with them was far more challenging for the Wings.

It took just six minutes for the visitors to go ahead when a great strike by Dillon De Silva gave Welling goalkeeper Rhys Lovett no chance.

Will Davies and Lewis Simper were both off target for Sutton before Lovett tipped over a Nana Boateng header. Boateng was involved again, soon after, helping to create their second goal. He found space that enabled Eduino Vaz to cross to the far post and Siju Odelusi rose to head home.

Seeking a quick response, Martell Taylor-Crossdale drew a good save out of Sutton goalkeeper Steve Arnold before TJ Bramble went even closer with a shot that rattled the bar on its way over.

Once again, Welling were denied when Harvey Walker’s free kick came back out off the post and Sutton twice cleared off the line in the ensuing scramble.

Ten minutes before half time, Sutton showed their clinical prowess in front of goal when adding a third. Simper’s blocked shot fell kindly into the path of Jayden Harris and he made no mistake when slotting it home.

Things went from bad to worse for the Wings when Walker had to be stretchered off with what turned out to be a broken leg just before half time.

With the outcome as good as decided, the second half was a quieter affair with plenty of substitutions however, Welling did have a couple of opportunities late on, first when Arnold got down well to save from Reece Grant, and then when the Sutton goalkeeper had to make a late adjustment to save after Gene Kennedy’s free kick was deflected to wrong foot him.

Rod Stringer, Welling’s manager, still has one or two decisions to make on his final squad but is well prepared for the opening league fixture on Saturday, at home to Aveley.

Welling United: Lovett, Johnson (Chukwu 59), H. Walker (Andrews 45+2), Burchell, Trialist, Wells, Cornish (Munns 71), Kennedy, Taylor-Crossdale (R. Grant 71), Bramble, Z. Walker (Long 59). Subs not used: Pitterson, Borg.