August ended with Welling United’s second Vanarama National League South defeat of the season at home to Chesham United.

Although the Wings were well beaten, ultimately, they were still in the game until the latter stages despite being reduced to ten men.

They were on the back foot immediately as they struggled to deal with high balls launched forward in the brisk wind. When they did get it down, far too many passes in midfield went astray and very little stuck when it went forward.

Omar Rowe had a clear cut chance for the visitors when a long clearance sent him through. Welling goalkeeper Rhys Lovett came out and made an excellent brave stop, taking a kick on the inside of his right leg for his pains.

Callum Adebiyi had a header cleared off the line by Anthony Grant before Mitchell Weiss shot across the face of goal.

Eventually, indecisive defending proved costly to Welling when they allowed a high clearance to bounce inside the area and Weiss was alert to direct it inside the far post.

Another piece of sloppy Welling passing allowed the visitors to deliver a cross that Joseph Grant headed into the arms of Lovett before the Wings’ custodian made a simple catch from Steve Brown’s header.

Martell Taylor-Crossdale struck a free kick wide for the Wings before they came close to levelling just before half time. Following an injury to Chiori Johnson, Daniel Martin switched to the right hand side and broke down the wing. He then cut in and unleashed a powerful shot that was very well saved by Benjamin Goode.

Both Welling strikers, Crossdale-Taylor and Anointed Chukwu, were cautioned early in the second half and that proved to be very costly for the former. Just after the hour mark, he burst forward and appeared to anticipate a touch from Goode and started to fall before it came. The referee wasted no time in showing him a second yellow card and dismissing him.

Whilst the Wings did not have a valid claim for a spot kick on that occasion, they were very unlucky not to be awarded one when they next attacked. Martin slipped Oscar Borg through and he was taken out by a rash challenge that sent him clattering into the wall behind the goal.

After that escape, Chesham looked to take advantage of their numerical advantage and Lovett was twice called into action to keep the Wings in the game. First, he made a brilliant block to stop Weiss, who was clean through. Then he got down superbly to push Joe Grant’s shot round the post.

Twelve minutes remained when he was beaten again. Rowe had the time to measure his shot and although the Welling stopper managed to get a hand to it, it was too well placed for him to keep it out.

Lovett was then not rewarded for making another outstanding save from T’Sharne Gallimore as it fell to Weiss who lofted it into the empty net from twenty-five yards to put the Generals three up.

Again Weiss got clear and again Lovett made another superb space before Welling clawed back a consolation goal deep into stoppage time. Jacob Mensah’s diagonal free kick was met by Martin and he headed home from an acute angle.

Welling United: Lovell, Johnson (Borg 40) Mensah 80), Martin, Burchell, Winfield, Wells, Kennedy, A. Grant (Cornish 80), Chukwu (R. Grant 80), Taylor-Crossdale, Bramble (Long 46). Subs not used: None.