A YOUTHFUL Millwall side overcame non-league neighbours Welling United at Park View Road last night.

Kiernan Hughes-Mason and Chris Hackett put Millwall 2-0 in front before former Lion Jack Obersteller halved the deficit for the Wings, but it wasn’t enough for the spirited Conference south side.

An end-to-end encounter burst into life after 10 minutes when the Lions’ young centre-half Pat O’Connor saw a goal-bound header blocked on the line, while at the other end Welling had a Luis Cumbers effort ruled out for offside.

Within minutes the deadlock was finally broken.

Hughes-Mason, who scored twice for Swindon Town last week on trial, added to this tally with a neat finish after home keeper Charlie Mitten could only parry a Gary Alexander shot.

And it wasn’t long before the Lions doubled their advantage.

On the half-hour mark, John Marquis’ flick on found Hackett who unleashed a super strike into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

Moments later, Hughes-Mason was denied a second when he struck a post after Alexander had slotted him through on goal.

The home side responded, reducing the deficit before the interval.

Full-back Obersteller, who had a superb game against his old club, cut inside from the right to deliver a powerful drive from 20 yards which wouldn’t have looked out of place in the Football League.

The contest appeared to suffer in the sweltering heat after the break, despite both sides introducing fresh legs.

Apart from Marquis shot which struck the upright and two speculative long-range efforts from Welling’s player-boss Jamie Day, the action all but dried up.

However, the Wings did show flashes of promise throughout and came close to grabbing an equalizer at the death.

A brilliant ball by Day found Junior Dadson in space, but his first-time volley flashed wide and with it went any hope of a leveller.

Welling: Mitten (Ming, 70), Coyle (Omegbehin 46), Andrews (Achampong 46), Parkinson, Obersteller (Johnson 46), Fazakerley (Dadson 46), Day, Clarke (Cracknell 46), Pires (Rice 46), Cumbers (Healy 46), Pugh (Whitnell 46).

Millwall: Sullivan, Dunne (Matthias 46), McLaren, Rogers (Kingsmill 46), O'Connor, Stevenson, Grabban, Hackett (Richards 46), Marquis, Alexander (Goodman 46), Hughes-Mason (French 66). Sub not used: Farmer.