On Monday night Welling United suffered the pain of defeated in Hertfordshire at Hemel Hempstead Town.

Injuries are stretching their squad. Harvey Walker and Zane Walker were already out before the weekend and on Saturday Oscar Borg and Chiori Johnson were added to the treatment room.

Just six minutes were on the clock when the problems worsened when Daniel Martin limped off with a hamstring injury to be replaced by debutant Charlie Pegrum, and with the Wings still adjusting, they went behind. Alfie Cerulli let fly from just outside the penalty area and it whistled into the top corner.

Despite the set-backs, Welling then created opportunities and only goalkeeper Craig King stood between them and an equaliser. First he made an excellent save from Elliot Long and when it came back into the penalty area TJ Bramble was unable to keep it down. Then Bramble was sent through and the goalkeeper made another brilliant save.

After Hemel’s Ricardo German had a goal disallowed for offside, King made another outstanding intervention when twisting to tip a shot from Martell Taylor-Crossdale onto the bar and over.

In the latter stages of the first period Hemel had a spell on top and George Williams fired wide before Rhys Lovett made a great save from Kyran Wiltshire. The Welling goalkeeper was again in action just before the break when saving well after German got in behind.

Taylor-Crossdale added to Welling’s mounting injury problems when he was unable to start the second period and Anointed Chukwu replaced him. The Welling substitute made an impact nine minutes in with a fierce strike to level after Gene Kennedy’s strong run created the opening.

Another surge by the Welling midfielder caused Hemel problems and this time he found Pegrum but his shot was blocked. The Leyton Orient loanee was on target soon after but King was equal to it with another good save.

Although Welling were on top at this stage, it was the hosts who scored the all important next goal when a miss-placed Welling pass allowed Williams to break down the wing and deliver a brilliant deep cross that German headed home.

German scored again soon after when Kai Innocent’s cross was knocked into his path and he made no mistake from close range.

King did well to save from Long before Connor Kurran-Brown, who had replaced German, struck the near post from a tight angle.

Seven minutes remained when the Hemel substitute did get his name on the scoresheet. Although his first effort was saved at point blank by another brilliant Lovett save, and Cerulli’s follow up was blocked, it fell kindly for Kurran-Browne to fire into the empty net.

Kennedy pulled one back with an excellent finish after his initial drive was blocked, then Long was again thwarted by the brilliance of King.

No further chances were fashioned and Hemel claimed all three points, albeit with a slightly flattering scoreline.

Welling United: Lovell, Burchell, Wells, A. Grant (Munns 77), Winfield, Perkins (Donkor 77), Martin (Pegrum 6), Kennedy, Taylor-Crossdale (Chukwu 46), Long, Bramble. Substitute not used: Mensah.