At the sixth time of asking, Welling United won their first away game of the season with a victory at St. Albans City.

Their three previous wins of the campaign have been recorded on their home turf at Park View Road so, although watching from the stand due to a one match touchline suspension, manager Rod Stringer was delighted with three points on the road, and a clean sheet.

In all, it was the Wings first league win on their travels since the beginning of March when they prevailed at Yeovil Town, and their first success at Clarence Park since February 2020.

Kevin Watson, Welling’s Assistant Manager, took over the dug-out duties, supported by goalkeeping coach Jim Stannard and midfield general Anthony Grant.

They came out flying and came close from their first corner, taken by Daniel Martin. Dave Winfield flicked it on to Anointed Chukwu whose shot was beaten out by Michael Johnson as far as Gene Kennedy. He hit it first time with a clean strike but the Saints’ goalkeeper recovered quickly to hold it well.

Martin worked his way through and hit the post with a low effort before Martell Taylor-Crossdale shot wide from Kwaku Donkor’s low cross.

It came as no surprise when the Wings went ahead in the fifteenth minute. Kennedy slid Chukwu in behind and he gave Johnson no chance with a ruthless finish.

Another Winfield flicked header from a corner gave Alex Lankshear an opportunity against the club who brought him through but it came to him at an awkward height and he was falling and could only volley it wide.

Although they had dominated the first half, all of Welling’s good work could have been undone approaching half time when a diagonal cross by Jack James picked out Ken Charles who headed over.

After the break, new signing Garrett Kelly was introduced for his Welling debut however, with the slope now in the hosts’ favour, they started to enjoy a little more of the game. They had the first opportunity of the second period when Joe Partington headed over from a Josh Castiglione corner.

Rhys Lovett, Welling’s goalkeeper, was called on to make his only save of the match when parrying a shot by Charles, then diving on it before anyone could follow up. Shortly after, Charles missed St. Albans’ best chance of the match when heading over at close range from a James corner.

While the hosts were looking for a leveller, it wasn’t all one way traffic and Welling had a chance through Donkor and Kelly combining to create a chance for Kennedy whose first time effort flew over.

Both Tafari Moore and Shaun Jeffers shot over after the Saints had made a triple substitution but the visitors still looked dangerous and Charlie Pegrum drew a good save out of Johnson.

Chukwu then had a great chance to put the match to bed when Johnson came too far out and the Welling striker chased him down. Having dispossessed him forty yards out, Chukwu chose to shoot first time towards the empty net but it went just the wrong side of the post and into the side netting.

As the game moved into the latter stages, Jeffers blasted a free kick well over before the Saints had one last opportunity in stoppage time when James lined up a shot inside the penalty area and Winfield sensed the danger and got across to make a brilliant block tackle.

Welling United: Lovett, Donkor (Pegrum 76), Martin, Statham, Winfield, Lankshear, Cornish, Kennedy, Chukwu (Long 90+3), Bramble (Kelly 46), Taylor-Crossdale (Osew 62). Sub not used: Johnson.